In honor of National Baby Safety Month, I was asked to share a few of my top safety tips for parents over on Kansas City’s own Fox 4 Morning Show today! (I will link and embed the video when it’s available.) Becoming a parent can be a stressful transition, and the last thing I wanted was for something in my home or car to be dangerous for my child. Luckily with some simple adjustments, you can make your space much safer and gain a little peace of mind as well.
Home Safety Tips
1. Clean Up Your Cleaning Supplies – One of the biggest hazards for little ones is when they get into home cleaning supplies. Make sure all chemical cleaning supplies are locked up in a childproof cabinet, with the sprayers turned to the off position. You can also replace your cleaners with less toxic or homemade versions. My favorite non-toxic cleaner is Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner, which does not made with any dangerous chemicals. It also can be used on everything from glass, to surfaces to floors. You can also make your own household cleaner, by mixing one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water. I add in lemon oil as well, just to cut down on the vinegar smell a bit.
2. Detergent Pods – These bright, colorful pods look like candy or toys to little children, which causes a HUGE risk for parents. In fact, just this summer Consumer Reports decided to remove these pods from their list of recommended detergents because of their safety issues. If you do decide to continue using these pods, be sure to store them somewhere locked up and out of reach of small children.
3. Mount Your Furniture and TV’s – One of the most common injuries for kids is when TV’s or unmounted furniture falls on them. But there is an easy fix! You can get mounting kits online, at electronics stores, furniture stores or hardware stores for around $10-$15.
4. Watch the Candy! – The most frequent cause of choking for kids under 14 years old is from attempting to eat candy! Make sure you’re not giving any hard candy or gum to kids 4 and under and pass that rule along to caregivers and grandparents. Yes, even if grandma insists on giving your little one a sucker…be strong, mama!
5. Sign up for Recall Alerts – This is one of the most simple ways you can ensure your child is as safe as possible. When you purchase a new piece of baby gear, make sure to send in the recall card that is included in the box, so you will be informed if there is a recall. You can also sign up for recall alerts online at recalls.gov.
Car Safety Tips
1. Know Your Car Seat Installation/Requirements – Make sure car seats are installed correctly and that you are using the right size car seat for your child’s size. Get the seats inspected by installation experts (police and fire stations can do this) and make sure the straps are placed correctly on your child. Also, don’t use bulky coats or blankets underneath the car seat straps! Instead, place a blanket over your child after they are buckled in or invest in a lightweight fleece that isn’t bulky, but provides warmth.
2. Know Age Limitations – While actual laws vary by state, recommendations and guidelines should be observed nationwide. Children should be backward facing until 2 years old, regardless of their weight or height. Children 12 and under should always sit in the backseat, regardless of size, due to passenger side airbags being too powerful for young bodies.
3. Set Rules for Car Behavior – No screaming or yelling in the car, or distracting the driver. If it’s unavoidable (a crying baby), pull over in to a parking lot or safe space until the car is quiet and you feel safe to start driving again.
4. Put Your Cell Phone Away – Keep your cell phone out of sight or turned off while you drive to avoid temptation. This also will carry over as your own kids learn from YOU how to behave while driving…and goes with my number five tip below…
5. Be a Good Example and Follow Your Own Rules – If you want your children to follow safe driving and riding guidelines, you need to do the same. You’re setting the example for their future driving habits! Start now!
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-09-13_0002.jpg533800Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2016-09-14 06:10:582016-09-14 06:11:12Daily Safety Tips for Parents : National Baby Safety Month
Now, first of all, yes, this is a book about marriage. Except it’s SO MUCH MORE than just that. I think this book applies to anyone, anywhere who has ever loved or been loved. And in turn, anyone who has ever been hurt. Which, let’s get real, is everyone, everywhere! One of the biggest takeaways of this book for me was the idea that a love lost is not wasted. Grief is not just a sadness…instead, Glennon shares her idea that grief itself is PROOF that we have loved, and loved well.
For those of you who are fans of Glennon’s website Momastery and her first book, Carry On, Warrior, this book might be a bit more intense than what you’ve seen before from Glennon. Which is saying something, because she’s usually very open! But this book goes even deeper, and really explores the anger that we experience as women when our trust is broken. It also investigates and puts a spotlight how the world receives a woman’s anger. In the end, it’s the anger that really forces Glennon to look further into herself than ever before, and helps her not only heal her newer wounds, but years of trauma, which started when she was a little girl.
But here’s the thing…Love Warrior is FUNNY! Like, I was laughing out loud reading certain passages. How can a book about infidelity, faith, love, anger and healing be funny? Well, that’s the gift you guys. Because if this book was too heavy, I don’t know if I could have made it through. Humor is how I work through the really difficult questions in my own life, and I’m so grateful that Glennon did the same, because it made her story even more familiar to me.
After reading Love Warrior, I feel more empowered to continue to heal myself and work toward closer relationships with all of my life’s loves…my husband, my children, my family and my friends. This book is truly a gift.
If you are looking for more Glennon in your life, I love this podcast interview with her…and also this one (although there is definitely some saucy language here, so make sure you’ve got your headphones plugged in at work before you hit play!).
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-09-13_0001.jpg1066800Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2016-09-13 11:08:322016-09-13 11:08:32CB Reads : Love Warrior
Yesterday I woke up to rain pouring outside. It was darker than it should have been. Usually when my alarm starts chirping, the sunlight is streaming through the window on my face. But yesterday I found myself confused and groggy. Was my alarm wrong? Did I set it to a random time on accident? Is it the middle of the night? Where am I? Is my husband here?
I rolled over and saw my husband snoozing beside me. I started gathering my bearings as I scanned the room. Everything was blurry. It was dark. It felt wrong.
I reached over to my bedside table, knocking over my glass of water and slapping the snooze button to quell the chirping. I fumbled around until I found my glasses and shoved them onto my face.
Then. The world cleared.
With my glasses on and my vision restored, I saw the reality of this particular morning. It wasn’t dark, it was just cloudy. Rain was pelting the window, creating a soothing rhythm. I rolled out of bed and padded around my room, stepping over the dog, attempting not to smash the kitten who was jumping around at my feet. As I walked down the hallway and into the kitchen, I felt my body start to wake up. Synapses were firing…slowly at first, but still, it was better than nothing. I ground the coffee beans in our insanely loud coffee grinder, the noise and the smell perking up my brain. I turn on NPR to hear the daily headlines while I sip my coffee in the dark. I feed the dog. I feed the cat. I start to put together lunch boxes for the day and check backpacks to make sure I’ve signed every permission slip or homework assignment.
And then I sit down and write. This is new again, the writing. I used to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard daily, but then things changed. Life was harder and faster and more frantic. I couldn’t just write “nothing.” Everything had to be something. It had to be perfectly curated with photos and white space and design. It had to be sponsored or be a list or be happy. It had to be funny. It had to be “real.” Eventually it all became too much, and I stopped writing for myself. I wrote for others. I shared my story, but rarely on my own terms.
Until today.
Recovery is a journey, and while the beginning was the stuff of novels and memoirs (the salacious and scandalous and obviously difficult brings in the readers), the in-between is what makes the story. The idea that one day you can wake up in your bed, three and a half years after your last drink, and the simple fact that it’s cloudy can transport you back to your misery. Those scary days when you woke up afraid and confused and unsure where you were or how you got there…but then the world clears and you realize that isn’t real anymore. Your life is now. Your life is a clear head and quiet coffee, not throbbing in your cerebral cortex and chugging glasses of water at 3 a.m. to battle dry mouth. Your life is packing lunches and writing, not crawling on your knees to the bathroom so you can lay your face on the cool tile. Your life is waking up to the mess your dog left in the kitchen when he got into the trash, not waking up on your couch with your wine glass in hand and red spilled all over your chest. Your life is now. You are different.
You are wearing your glasses now. You can see everything clearly.
September is National Recovery Month, but for me, every, single day is a celebration of my recovery. Every small act, each minuscule idea that pops into my brain, is a part of my recovery. When you’ve lived through the darkness, the light, no matter how dim, can be blinding. When you have been your very worst self, each tiny accomplishment is worthy of a parade.
Today my recovery is different than it was a few years ago. It’s a process, and it’s constantly changing. There are so many ways to get better, and my needs change as my life changes. I am okay with that. I am not perfect, but I am getting better. Progress is my goal, not perfection.
In honor of National Recovery Month and because I am ready, today I’m launching a new section of Crazy Bananas. The “Recovery” section will house the story of my sobriety and will hopefully help others who are struggling. While I’ve written about my recovery intermittently through the years, I want to create a safe space where I can write about it more regularly on my own time and using my own rules, and a place where I can direct people who contact me looking for answers or advice. I want to be a part of a community of helpers. I want to use my own pain and struggle to assist others in the darkness. Because today I’m fortunate enough to be in the light, even if sometimes it’s raining when I wake up.
Today, my vision is clear. I am so, so lucky.
Click over to the “Recovery” section to read more about my journey through recovery.
http://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016-09-09_0001.jpg800800Meganhttp://www.crazybananas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Crazy_Banans_Logo_WebsiteBanner.pngMegan2016-09-09 12:05:322016-09-09 12:05:32Finding My Glasses
Daily Safety Tips for Parents : National Baby Safety Month
/0 Comments/in Media, Parenting /by MeganIn honor of National Baby Safety Month, I was asked to share a few of my top safety tips for parents over on Kansas City’s own Fox 4 Morning Show today! (I will link and embed the video when it’s available.) Becoming a parent can be a stressful transition, and the last thing I wanted was for something in my home or car to be dangerous for my child. Luckily with some simple adjustments, you can make your space much safer and gain a little peace of mind as well.
Home Safety Tips
1. Clean Up Your Cleaning Supplies – One of the biggest hazards for little ones is when they get into home cleaning supplies. Make sure all chemical cleaning supplies are locked up in a childproof cabinet, with the sprayers turned to the off position. You can also replace your cleaners with less toxic or homemade versions. My favorite non-toxic cleaner is Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner, which does not made with any dangerous chemicals. It also can be used on everything from glass, to surfaces to floors. You can also make your own household cleaner, by mixing one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water. I add in lemon oil as well, just to cut down on the vinegar smell a bit.
2. Detergent Pods – These bright, colorful pods look like candy or toys to little children, which causes a HUGE risk for parents. In fact, just this summer Consumer Reports decided to remove these pods from their list of recommended detergents because of their safety issues. If you do decide to continue using these pods, be sure to store them somewhere locked up and out of reach of small children.
3. Mount Your Furniture and TV’s – One of the most common injuries for kids is when TV’s or unmounted furniture falls on them. But there is an easy fix! You can get mounting kits online, at electronics stores, furniture stores or hardware stores for around $10-$15.
4. Watch the Candy! – The most frequent cause of choking for kids under 14 years old is from attempting to eat candy! Make sure you’re not giving any hard candy or gum to kids 4 and under and pass that rule along to caregivers and grandparents. Yes, even if grandma insists on giving your little one a sucker…be strong, mama!
5. Sign up for Recall Alerts – This is one of the most simple ways you can ensure your child is as safe as possible. When you purchase a new piece of baby gear, make sure to send in the recall card that is included in the box, so you will be informed if there is a recall. You can also sign up for recall alerts online at recalls.gov.
Car Safety Tips
1. Know Your Car Seat Installation/Requirements – Make sure car seats are installed correctly and that you are using the right size car seat for your child’s size. Get the seats inspected by installation experts (police and fire stations can do this) and make sure the straps are placed correctly on your child. Also, don’t use bulky coats or blankets underneath the car seat straps! Instead, place a blanket over your child after they are buckled in or invest in a lightweight fleece that isn’t bulky, but provides warmth.
2. Know Age Limitations – While actual laws vary by state, recommendations and guidelines should be observed nationwide. Children should be backward facing until 2 years old, regardless of their weight or height. Children 12 and under should always sit in the backseat, regardless of size, due to passenger side airbags being too powerful for young bodies.
3. Set Rules for Car Behavior – No screaming or yelling in the car, or distracting the driver. If it’s unavoidable (a crying baby), pull over in to a parking lot or safe space until the car is quiet and you feel safe to start driving again.
4. Put Your Cell Phone Away – Keep your cell phone out of sight or turned off while you drive to avoid temptation. This also will carry over as your own kids learn from YOU how to behave while driving…and goes with my number five tip below…
5. Be a Good Example and Follow Your Own Rules – If you want your children to follow safe driving and riding guidelines, you need to do the same. You’re setting the example for their future driving habits! Start now!
CB Reads : Love Warrior
/0 Comments/in Reading, Recovery /by MeganA few weeks ago I posted about some things in my life that were making me happy, and included in the list was the incredible new book by Glennon Doyle Melton, Love Warrior. I finished the book a few days ago, and I wanted to share a few of my thoughts.
Now, first of all, yes, this is a book about marriage. Except it’s SO MUCH MORE than just that. I think this book applies to anyone, anywhere who has ever loved or been loved. And in turn, anyone who has ever been hurt. Which, let’s get real, is everyone, everywhere! One of the biggest takeaways of this book for me was the idea that a love lost is not wasted. Grief is not just a sadness…instead, Glennon shares her idea that grief itself is PROOF that we have loved, and loved well.
For those of you who are fans of Glennon’s website Momastery and her first book, Carry On, Warrior, this book might be a bit more intense than what you’ve seen before from Glennon. Which is saying something, because she’s usually very open! But this book goes even deeper, and really explores the anger that we experience as women when our trust is broken. It also investigates and puts a spotlight how the world receives a woman’s anger. In the end, it’s the anger that really forces Glennon to look further into herself than ever before, and helps her not only heal her newer wounds, but years of trauma, which started when she was a little girl.
But here’s the thing…Love Warrior is FUNNY! Like, I was laughing out loud reading certain passages. How can a book about infidelity, faith, love, anger and healing be funny? Well, that’s the gift you guys. Because if this book was too heavy, I don’t know if I could have made it through. Humor is how I work through the really difficult questions in my own life, and I’m so grateful that Glennon did the same, because it made her story even more familiar to me.
After reading Love Warrior, I feel more empowered to continue to heal myself and work toward closer relationships with all of my life’s loves…my husband, my children, my family and my friends. This book is truly a gift.
If you are looking for more Glennon in your life, I love this podcast interview with her…and also this one (although there is definitely some saucy language here, so make sure you’ve got your headphones plugged in at work before you hit play!).
Finding My Glasses
/0 Comments/in Recovery /by MeganYesterday I woke up to rain pouring outside. It was darker than it should have been. Usually when my alarm starts chirping, the sunlight is streaming through the window on my face. But yesterday I found myself confused and groggy. Was my alarm wrong? Did I set it to a random time on accident? Is it the middle of the night? Where am I? Is my husband here?
I rolled over and saw my husband snoozing beside me. I started gathering my bearings as I scanned the room. Everything was blurry. It was dark. It felt wrong.
I reached over to my bedside table, knocking over my glass of water and slapping the snooze button to quell the chirping. I fumbled around until I found my glasses and shoved them onto my face.
Then. The world cleared.
With my glasses on and my vision restored, I saw the reality of this particular morning. It wasn’t dark, it was just cloudy. Rain was pelting the window, creating a soothing rhythm. I rolled out of bed and padded around my room, stepping over the dog, attempting not to smash the kitten who was jumping around at my feet. As I walked down the hallway and into the kitchen, I felt my body start to wake up. Synapses were firing…slowly at first, but still, it was better than nothing. I ground the coffee beans in our insanely loud coffee grinder, the noise and the smell perking up my brain. I turn on NPR to hear the daily headlines while I sip my coffee in the dark. I feed the dog. I feed the cat. I start to put together lunch boxes for the day and check backpacks to make sure I’ve signed every permission slip or homework assignment.
And then I sit down and write. This is new again, the writing. I used to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard daily, but then things changed. Life was harder and faster and more frantic. I couldn’t just write “nothing.” Everything had to be something. It had to be perfectly curated with photos and white space and design. It had to be sponsored or be a list or be happy. It had to be funny. It had to be “real.” Eventually it all became too much, and I stopped writing for myself. I wrote for others. I shared my story, but rarely on my own terms.
Until today.
Recovery is a journey, and while the beginning was the stuff of novels and memoirs (the salacious and scandalous and obviously difficult brings in the readers), the in-between is what makes the story. The idea that one day you can wake up in your bed, three and a half years after your last drink, and the simple fact that it’s cloudy can transport you back to your misery. Those scary days when you woke up afraid and confused and unsure where you were or how you got there…but then the world clears and you realize that isn’t real anymore. Your life is now. Your life is a clear head and quiet coffee, not throbbing in your cerebral cortex and chugging glasses of water at 3 a.m. to battle dry mouth. Your life is packing lunches and writing, not crawling on your knees to the bathroom so you can lay your face on the cool tile. Your life is waking up to the mess your dog left in the kitchen when he got into the trash, not waking up on your couch with your wine glass in hand and red spilled all over your chest. Your life is now. You are different.
You are wearing your glasses now. You can see everything clearly.
September is National Recovery Month, but for me, every, single day is a celebration of my recovery. Every small act, each minuscule idea that pops into my brain, is a part of my recovery. When you’ve lived through the darkness, the light, no matter how dim, can be blinding. When you have been your very worst self, each tiny accomplishment is worthy of a parade.
Today my recovery is different than it was a few years ago. It’s a process, and it’s constantly changing. There are so many ways to get better, and my needs change as my life changes. I am okay with that. I am not perfect, but I am getting better. Progress is my goal, not perfection.
In honor of National Recovery Month and because I am ready, today I’m launching a new section of Crazy Bananas. The “Recovery” section will house the story of my sobriety and will hopefully help others who are struggling. While I’ve written about my recovery intermittently through the years, I want to create a safe space where I can write about it more regularly on my own time and using my own rules, and a place where I can direct people who contact me looking for answers or advice. I want to be a part of a community of helpers. I want to use my own pain and struggle to assist others in the darkness. Because today I’m fortunate enough to be in the light, even if sometimes it’s raining when I wake up.
Today, my vision is clear. I am so, so lucky.
Click over to the “Recovery” section to read more about my journey through recovery.