Category: motherhood

Making Education Fun With SimplyFun
asouthernmother
April 27, 2015

This is a sponsored post, however all opinions contained herein are entirely my own.

Do you want your child’s first educational experience to be fun? SimplyFun® wants to help make their educational experience fun by incorporating play with educational game play. I love the excitement on my son’s face when he learns a new skill or master’s a new word. He tells me that he stores things in his “big brain”, but he’s just a typical 5 year old. SimplyFun® has games available for a wide variety of ages and skill levels. We love family game night, and I love when I can incorporate educational/skill-building activities into our family game night. We also try to spend any free time that we have watching these YoutTube learning songs so that even when he’s getting ready for bed, or if we’re going on a long journey that he still has the opportunity to learn new things. These videos also allow him to build upon any skills that he has already learnt during family game night, amongst other things.

autism awareness month

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From Soccer Mom to Sideline Hero
asouthernmother
April 27, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SidelineHero #CollectiveBias

Last year I was “promoted” from soccer mom to soccer coach. It was an interesting leap, especially since I was coaching the 4 through 6 age division. Have you ever heard the term “it was like herding chickens”? It isn’t always easy to keep the attention of children that young, and to keep them continually focused on the game. It was a challenging, but rewarding experience. It was an introduction to soccer for many of the kids on our team, and it was definitely an introduction to soccer coaching for me. We had fun learning side by side. One thing I struggled with as the coach was asking parents to bring snacks on game days. Many parents seemed reluctant to want to bring snacks, and it was often because they were unsure of what to get. In today’s post I’m sharing some snack ideas and a free soccer tag printable for your sideline hero kit.

free soccer tag printable

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Birds Nest Pudding Cups
asouthernmother
March 5, 2015

My son loves to help me cook. We enjoy spending the time together and it’s a learning experience for him. I have taught him to measure ingredients, count eggs, and how to be safe in the kitchen. I created this dessert while we played in the kitchen together and as part of our Easter season celebration. These Birds Nest Pudding Cups are inspired by  Gabe’s love of birds nests. He was so excited to help decorate the nests with SWEETARTS® Jelly Beans. 

birds nest pudding cups

 

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This is #OurLand: The Trust for Public Land
asouthernmother
November 20, 2014

When MomDot Media asked for applications on the Trust for Public Land #OurLand campaign, I jumped at the chance. I spent most of my childhood exploring the mountains and playing in the fields of southeastern Kentucky. When we traveled to a park it was to see a landmark or while we were on vacation; I loved seeing the majestic Smoky Mountains or imagining the trails my ancestors followed getting through what is now the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. I often wonder how good it would be to look for different places to stay at the Smoky Mountains as all of the cabins they have there are simply beautiful and really make the vacation more exciting. Trips like this really made my childhood one to remember. It wasn’t until I moved into the city as an adult that I realized the true value of public parks. Where do children run and play when they live with little to no available outdoor space? Who advocates to ensure individuals have access to public land? The Trust for Public Land is a nonprofit organization that works to protect public land including parks, gardens, and natural areas. They created the #OurLand campaign to showcase parks and outdoors spaces, and to find out why nature matters to you.

#OurLand

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MassMutual reminds us “Love is a Gift”
asouthernmother
November 3, 2014

Tracking Pixel There is nothing quite like the love a mother has for her child. I was married 8 years before I got pregnant with Gabe. I thought I would “start” my own life before I had children, but I realized my life really didn’t begin until I had him. His love is the greatest gift that I have ever received. I am amazed at how my love for him continually grows, and the love he gives me in return. Thank you to MassMutual for sponsoring today’s post, and reminding us that #LoveIsAGift.

#LoveIsAGift

MassMutual Financial Group® helps individuals protect their families through financial planning. Who wants to leave a financial mess for your loved ones in the event of death or disability? It would just be heartbreaking! Unfortunately, though, there are millions of people around the world who don’t take the time to speak to a professional financial advisor when they have the time, and so they will find that their finances won’t have been sufficiently planned for such eventualities than if they did reach out for help. I know what I’ll be doing that’s for sure, irrespective of who I turn to for help. Nowadays finances can come in a myriad of ways especially as we have turned to the cryptocurrency era. If you want to leave something for your family with cryptocurrency then it may be best to check Independent Reserve for assistance in this area, you can then discuss what you want to do with your financial advisor. To make sure that the chances of this happening are reduced, MassMutual created the #LoveIsAGift campaign to celebrate the people that matter most in our lives.

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From the mouth of my “babe”: Thoughtful Thursday
asouthernmother
June 19, 2014

There is never a dull moment around my four year old son. He is overly friendly, silly, inquisitive, and
occasionally down right ornery, and the mixture of those traits often leaves me amused and/or frustrated.

We were on our way back from a mini-vacation in Chicago, which shouldn’t be much more than a 6 hour road trip. Our trip back took close to 9.5 hours; if there was a traffic jam, construction, or a 100 foot bridge beam requiring a police escort and 25 mph interstate speed, we encountered it.

We decided to stop in Lafayette, Indiana to get lunch and use the restroom. I rarely stop for extended periods of time, but I noticed the Chick-fil-a had an indoor playground and Gabe needed a break.

Gabe and I headed to the restroom before we got lunch. A tiny little old lady followed us into the bathroom, and Gabe and I held the door. There were only two stalls. Gabe sat down on the toilet, when he was disturbed by a rather loud noise.

The lady who entered the stall next door was having some obvious intestinal discomfort. She let out a very large fart and then it sounded like she was emptying the contents of her digestive tract in the most unpleasant way.

Poop happens, but I wasn’t prepared for my son’s response.

“Do you feel better?”,  he yelled across the stall.

I immediately shushed him, and tried not to laugh.

She heard him; there wasn’t more than 3 feet of air space between us and a tin metal stall wall.

I was mortified, but I wasn’t sure why. My sweet little boy was just concerned for his neighbor across the stall.

We waited patiently in our stall until she left the bathroom. I couldn’t bare to cross her path, I feared that I would giggle over what my son said and offend her.

Everyone has tummy troubles in a public restroom at least once in their life, but they generally aren’t asked about it by a four year old.

Later I realized that I should have taken the opportunity to tell him that he did the right thing, even though it was at the most inopportune time. It was needlessly embarrassing to me.

He was a four year old little boy showing concern for someone that he didn’t know. I could learn from his example. Gabe reminded me that I need to take the time to check on my friends, and to not take life so seriously.

Passion: My Hope for Gabriel
asouthernmother
October 2, 2013

Rarely do I struggle for words, I am generally full of them.  The only person I know who talks more than I do is my 3.5 year old son.  Two weeks ago I was asked to go on stage at the Social Good Summit in NYC, and in a few sentences describe my hopes for my son.  Like many parents, I have many aspirations for him.  How could I possibly narrow it down?  I want him to be healthy and happy.  I want him to have access to a quality education and healthcare.  He needs to see compassion and empathy.  I hope he can find strength in adversity.  I had flashbacks from a discussion with Raising America Executive Producer Rena Popp at the Mom2.0Summit when I was pondering my answer.  She said she feared I would get to talking and not know when to stop.  I definitely didn’t want to be “that mom”. 

United Nations Foundation’s Peter Yeo dubbed “Charlie” and Shot@Life Champions “the angels”
Photo Credit: Myrdin Thompson

I thought long and hard about what I would say, and not just what I would say to the public but what I would say to him when he was old enough to understand.  I reflected on the last decade of my life, and what single piece of advice would have been the most constructive.  I always felt lost.  My entire life I had been told that I needed to be a doctor.  I was book smart and I had a desire to help people.  It sounded great at the time.  I generally have nerves of steel and an iron stomach, so it seemed like a fit.  It took me years to realize that my draw to medicine wasn’t actually practicing medicine, it was helping others.  I had invested my life in pursing a career and an education that wasn’t really meant for me.  I wish I had someone to help me figure out what I was passionate about, and how I could have developed that into a career.  

My sweet friend took a screenshot during the lives steam. 

My light bulb moment happened.  I knew exactly what I hoped for my son in a singular phrase.  I wanted him to discover what he is passionate about.  My words to the million people listening were,

 “My name is Jessica Peace-Urgelles, my hope for my son Gabriel is that he finds what is passionate about, no matter how long it takes him to find that.  I hope he has the courage to follow that passion, and he has people to encourage him just like I have had people encourage me”