For most of you being a mother is one of the most wonderful and
rewarding experiences that you will have in your life. It can
also be a time when you feel lost and out of touch with who you
are outside of being a “mommy”. Maintaining an identity outside
of your children is vitally important, not just for you, but for
your family as well. So here are ten strategies that not only
keep you connected with you, but also have the added bonus of
being an important life skill to teach your children.

1. Be present- Often when we spend time with our children
we are thinking about the things that we should be doing or we
multi task and we are not really present with them. Then, when
we are not with them, we feel guilty. Make the decision that
when you spend time with your child to just be there for them,
enjoy them, listen to them, and focus on them 100%. Spending
this type of quality time with your child will lessen the guilt
and help you focus on other activities with the same 100%
attention. Added Bonus: Teaches your child to focus on
and enjoy the moment.

2. Take care of yourself-
This is a big one for most women since we get so busy caring for
others we tend to forget about ourselves. Define what taking
care of yourself means to you and develop a schedule to do it.
Keep tweaking your schedule until you are actually fitting
taking care of yourself into the day. Taking care of yourself
helps to replenish your spirit, it helps you to relax, and it
helps you to feel good about yourself. Added Bonus:
Teaches your child to develop healthy habits that will last a
lifetime.

3. Connect with you partner- It is so
easy to get wrapped up in the kids and in everyday life that you
forget about your relationship with your partner. Connect with
your partner as often as you can, make a point to sit down over
coffee on a Sunday morning and just talk about anything and
everything, but the kids. It can be silly or profound, just make
sure you connect with each other as a couple. Added
Bonus: Teaches your child how to maintain a healthy
relationship.

4. Get involved- Get involved in
some activity that is only for you. It can be work,
volunteering, a class, or a book club. Just get involved in some
regular activity where you are not a wife or a mommy, you are
just you. Added Bonus: Encourages your child to
participate in outside activities.

5. Have
meaningful conversations- Sometimes when you have children
your day gets so caught up with “kid stuff” that you can’t
remember the last time you had a meaningful adult conversation.
Have you ever felt frustrated, aggravated and on edge and then
gone out to a long dinner with a friend and felt like a new
woman at the end of the night? That is why it is important to
have meaningful conversations. Added Bonus: Teaches your
child to get their needs met by more than one person.

6. Read- Who has time to read? We all do. It doesn’t have
to be a long time, and reading is a great way to be
intellectually stimulated. It exposes us to different subjects
and new ideas, even when it is a light and fluffy read. Staying
intellectually stimulated is important because it keeps us in
touch with what we find exciting and gets those brain cells
snapping. . Added Bonus: Teaches your child to seek out
and appreciate knowledge.

7. Take time for just you- Make sure you get some get
some quality time for just you. It can be anything you want from
spending time with a friend, to getting a manicure, or just
being by yourself. Just do something that is only for you, it
will fill you up and refresh you. You will feel like a new woman
after you are done. . Added Bonus: Encourages your child
to be independent.

8. Remember that you have needs
too- We have needs, and it is our responsibility to get them
met. If you’re feeling frustrated, or unappreciated, instead of
walking around feeling angry and misunderstood, figure out a way
to get those needs met. Talk about them, ask for support, and be
specific. And remember most people can’t read minds so you have
to communicate with them to get those needs met. Added Bonus:
Teaches your child how to effectively meet their own needs.

9. Give yourself permission- Why do we feel like
bad mothers for wanting to do something for ourselves? Every
woman who I have ever talked to that wants to express an
unhappiness about being a mother feels the need to qualify it by
saying “Well, of course I love my child more than anything in
the world but…”. Of course you do, but it doesn’t mean that you
can’t be unhappy about the way something is going or how you
feel. This is how you feel right now, there is nothing wrong
with that, you’re a normal mother. Give yourself permission to
feel the way you do and do something for yourself to feel
better. Even if that means stepping back from your child for a
couple of hours. . Added Bonus: Teaches your child to
recognize and healthily deal with their emotions.

10. Be a role model- When you ask most parents what they
want most for their children they say that they want them to be
happy and successful contributing adults. The very best way to
ensure that comes true for your child is to be a role model. If
you want your child to be confident, get their needs met, be
sure of who they are, and happy with their life, just remember
that they learn that from you. . Added Bonus: Teaches
your child to act with integrity.

Being a mother in
today’s modern world is tricky business. We are bombarded all
day long with messages of what makes a “good mother”. Just
forget all that, and be true to you. Being joyful, present, and
authentically you is the very best gift you can give to yourself
and your child.

When you hear the word “beads,” do you immediately think of
jewelry? Or do you think of Rosary beads or some other
non-jewelry use of beadsbeaded dresses, headbands, belts?
Perhaps you think of a country and western outfit, a studded,
head-to-toe piece of jewelry.

The first thought that enters your mind when you hear the word
“beads” may date you and give away your age faster than physical
attributes. If you’re a product of the 50’s, your mind may
wander to pop beads, those plastic pull apart, pop together
baubles that have risen in value from pennies to $20, $30 or
more. If you’re a product of the 60’s, you may think of “love
beads,” which complemented the long-haired, unkempt look, or
your mind may wander to the long strands of beads that once
adorned inside doorways in Haight Ashbury with sounds of The
Mamas and the Papas blaring in the background. Thanks to
television, it’s difficult to forget the beaded belts of the 70s.

>From Ancient Trade to Modern Computer Applications

Beads predate the mid-20th century by eons. Remember the abacus?
Of course, you can’t actually remember back 2000 years unless
you possess powers unknown to this author, but you can remember
learning about the abacus in school. In Europe, Venetian glass
beads and German metal beads served as currency in trade as
early as the 16th century. Beads also played a central role in
Native American jewelry.

Bohemia (aptly named) was the center of the European bead trade
from as far back as the Middle Ages. Through the twists and
turns of history, bead making moved to Bavaria and now, has once
again found its home in the Chezk Republic, in the Bohemia area,
home of Swarovski Austrian crystals.

In 1990, Native American traditional beadwork intersected with
computer sciences. Several college campuses introduced a pilot
program in which beadwork shaped the foundation for courses
AutoCad and other design program courses for Native American
students. The popularity and applicability of these courses
continues today.

Modern Beads

Now that we’ve strolled down memory lane and taken a quick look
at vintage beads, beads no longer in production, where do beads
fit into today’s jewelry scene? They’re everywhere you look from
casual chokers and necklaces to fine Swarovski Austrian crystal
designs.

Think beyond a single strand of beads. Start by thinking of a
single strand of beads from which a pendant dangles. From there,
think pinsyes, pins adorned with beads, beaded bracelets,
barrettes, earrings, etc. In fact, think beyond jewelry to
purses and other accessories. If you look closely at your
surroundings, you’ll find beads everywhere.

The Many Faces of Beads

Another thing that you might rethink is the composition and
shape of beads. Today’s beads come in a myriad of shapes and
materials, with Austrian crystal topping the list. Today’s look
du jour of transparent, translucent and iridescent beads don the
bodies of the rich and famous along with everyday mortals.
Venetian glass beads often encapsulate swirls within the beads
for a unique, timeless quality.

The latest in fashion trends includes little beaded silk purses.
While you wouldn’t want to cover yourself in head-to-toe beads
unless you’re auditioning for a singing gig in Nashville, a silk
beaded purse with a complementary beaded necklace turns an
ordinary evening outfit into a walking work of art.

Open your eyes and look for one-of-a-kind, handmade beaded
jewelry. It’s everywhere, and it’s calling your name.

The cost of breast implants, which is the medical term used to describe a surgery to increase the size of a woman’s breasts, is high. Therefore, the majority of patients who desire to have breast implants surgery are turning to their private insurance companies for coverage. Prior to being accepted as a candidate for a breast implants procedure, the patient must undergo an evaluation with their physician. This may include a physical, a look into the patient’s past medical history and a determination of why the patient wishes to have this type of surgery. The patient will be informed by both the surgeon and primary care physician about the benefits, risks and overall outlook following surgery.

Before moving forward, the patient should contact his/her private insurance carrier in order to determine if their policy covers this type of surgery. The problem that many patients encounter is, because breast implants is a form of plastic surgery, many insurance companies will not cover the cost of this procedure. If breast implants are included in their policy, the next step will include submitting letters of recommendation to the insurance carrier.

This letter will be sent directly from your surgeon or physician’s office and will request financial approval for the breast implants. Along with this letter, a copy of the patient’s medical records will also be submitted. The patient will be responsible for gathering much of his/her medical records and receipts, so it is a good idea to begin gathering this information as soon as possible because letters of recommendation cannot be submitted without it.

Following the submission of recommendation letters, most physicians expect a response within several weeks. Depending on the insurance carriers, however, decisions can take anywhere from two weeks up to several months. In the event that a denial is issued, the physician will typically continue working with the patient to provide additional information expressing the need for breast implants surgery. If the patient is continually denied for coverage, it may be necessary to seek alternate funding options. This may include a payment plan offered by the hospital, which requires that the patient accept the financial responsibility for the surgery in the form of monthly payments. A bank or credit union loan may be another option, but will depend on the patient’s credit history and other factors as to whether the loan is approved or denied.

This article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Anyone considering a breast implants procedure must consult a licensed physician for a proper determination and further information.