If it isn't a Hell Yeah, it's a no

I read that zinger from an interview with Danielle Smith and it really stuck with me. As a near-obsessive Yes-Sayer, I need some reminders about when and how (and even why!) to say no to life’s little requests.

Danielle says, “Your time is precious. Value it. Make it a ‘Hell Yeah.’” Read the whole article at 3thingsformom.com.

So, What is 3 Things for Mom?

In January, when I was still busy saying yes to most things, I participated in the launch of a terrific web project; Lauren several writers the same simple assignment: Please share a truth, a tip, and a find. She wanted to create an archive of inspiration to be enjoyed over morning coffee (or whenever you find your sneaky moments, thank you naptime!)

Each time I go back and visit, I find more rich advice and perspective. I dare you not to get lost in these words of wisdom: 3thingsformom.com/contributors

Tell me which things resonate most with you today.

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The best things in life are free, guys, right? That includes making a baby*, and if you insist, you can give birth to that baby for free in your backyard or bed. But then what?

I asked our Facebook community of more than 10,000 moms what they found most useful — so useful they’d share it with a friend who had a new baby — and while many named products to buy, like the Nosefrida Snotsucker, or books to buy, like these, many shared resources for free advice.

Here’s what you smart moms wanted to share with the rookies:

Easy how to make a Moby Wrap tutorial. No sewing required.

  1. How to make your own Moby wrap

  2. Follow @nancyholtzman on twitter. She answers all questions at all hours!
  3. “Always take the baby’s socks off when changing a messy diaper.” Good one.
  4. Subscribe to Lucie’s List, the lowdown on everything from pregnancy, birth, carseats, and life after baby.
  5. “Have a lactation consultant come to your house as soon as you get home from the hospital (better yet, have one you’ve interviewed come to the hospital) because the ones there are crap.”
  6. Cloth diapering resource Padded Tush Stats 
  7. Dr. Sears’ website 
  8. AskMoxie.org, for compassionate parenting advice and a wonderfully nonjudgmental group of readers/ commenters.
  9. Hygiea Kate, the founder of Hygiea breastpumps, also offers support on Twitter.

*I want to acknowledge that some of us have to invest boatloads of money into making a baby and I am truly sorry for that. It’s not fair. The end.

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Obsessing about a “Go out and play” backyard

June 14, 2013

We moved into a new-old bigger house a year ago. Between having a third child and my work-from-home job, we wanted more space to live and breathe. Not to mention we wanted to be able to have friends over more comfortably. Top of my list of requirements was that we have nice outdoor space, good [...]

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Try this with me: Asked and Answered to end little kid nagging.

June 13, 2013

Do your children ask you the same question 80 times in a row? My 5-year old does, and sometimes I think it’s due to her age — distracted, impatient, excited, forgetful, enthusiastic — and sometimes it’s because she’s hoping for a different answer. “Can I have a snack?” “No. We’re having dinner in 20 minutes.” [...]

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I’m embarrassed to be embarrassed about nursing

June 12, 2013

It’s all been said before: breastfeeding is natural and beautiful and we should be able to do it whenever and wherever baby is hungry (except in a bathroom, if baby gets hungry in a bathroom, baby should wait a minute). Consequently, I am embarrassed to be embarrassed about nursing. I offer a few anecdotes to [...]

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Tech Tuesday: Use Google Earth to check out playgrounds

June 11, 2013

This tech tip comes from my husband, Ryan, who is a great optimizer of all of life’s tasks, including his parenting pursuits. Case in point, I just received an email from him letting me know he had been alerted that a kid’s bike sized for our son came up for sale on Craig’s List in [...]

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Activity #233: Banish your mommy guilt

June 10, 2013

My caring husband bought me the book Mommy Guilt as a not-so-subtle hint for me to lighten up and have more fun when our firstborn was a baby. The subtitle, Learn to worry less, focus on what matters most, and raise happier kids, was appealing enough; and my commute and daily visit to the pumping [...]

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Lessons from Finland: Babies can sleep in boxes

June 7, 2013

Did you guys see this BBC article circulating the other day? Rookie mom Yasmeen in Pune, India sent it to us. Thanks, Yasmeen! Pregnant women in Finland receive a starter kit from the government that includes this large box, suitable as a newborn sleeping station (includes a mattress), packed with baby necessities from cold weather [...]

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Activity #102: Photograph your baby ALONE alone

June 6, 2013

Chelsea Day and her husband, Nate, have a special ritual whenever they’re alone with the baby for any length of time. They take pictures of their little one alone like alone alone (dare I say abandoned?) and text them to each other. We met Chelsea at the Mom 2.0 conference on a bus and she [...]

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Tough love: Here is your body image homework

June 5, 2013

When I met Dr. Jessica Michaelson, I got the feeling she’d fit in here. She’s a psychologist who specializes in maternal well-being. She didn’t have me at “Hello,” because I’m way too cynical for that, but rather, she had me at “You need someone who really knows what you’re going through and how to get [...]

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Tech Tuesday: Build healthy habits with Lift

June 4, 2013

I’m a list-maker and a score-keeper; sometimes it’s all I can do to NOT literally track everything I do that is measurable. I have learned over time, for example, that it is really really best not to count who changes how many diapers in a marriage. But for good habits, it is nice to see [...]

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40 self-care tasks for moms

June 3, 2013

Consider this list your to-do list, women. I am recently humbled by women younger and seemingly healthier than I being diagnosed with mother-effing cancer. I offer this list to you because Meagan and Shana want you to go get your shite checked out. Please do this stuff. If not for yourself, do it for your [...]

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