Twittermoms has asked us to write about our aspirations and hopes for the new year.  After the year I’ve had, I can only HOPE that 2011 is better.  I don’t think I can stand anything worse. 

I HOPE that I get answers for my stomach problems. I HOPE I can handle the repairs, whatever they may be, and I HOPE that my family can too.

I HOPE that my hubby keeps his job – he likes his job, he likes the company (despite their ridiculous policy on health insurance) – two things that haven’t happened many times in our life together. 

I HOPE my mother’s health improves and that we can find answers for the problems that are happening to her as well.

I HOPE that my children continue to grow and explore, learn and live a happy childhood.

My aspirations aren’t many, but I do have a few.

• I’d really like to improve my photography – the technical side of things, of understanding the camera and making it work to MY knowledge, not the other way around.
• I’d really like to take some classes that would eventually allow me to earn money to help hubby support our family, and not just leave it all on his shoulders.
• I’d REALLY like to become a better wife and mother, the wife and mother that my family deserves.
• I’d like to learn to knit.
• I’d really like to learn to french braid my daughter’s hair!  My own, as well.
• I’d like to attend BlogHer ‘11, but doubt that’ll happen.
• I’d like to be a better friend, as well, and not focus so much on my own problems all the time.
• I’d like to become a better writer, and not rely on bullet points to make my point(s).

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“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Before I had children, whenever I’d meet someone’s children who were behaving badly, it would always leave me with a feeling that the parents had missed something vital in what they were teaching their children.

Those little lessons, however infrequent, have always stayed with me.  When TwitterMoms asked us what 5 Important Things Our Children NEED to Know, I knew what my first one would be.

1. Manners!  My children’s first words were please and thank you.  As a result, they’ve always been complimented for their manners, even when they sometimes forget.
2. Looking both ways before crossing the street.  We’ve always lived on busy roads, so it’s always been vital that they learn that immediately – as soon as they could *get* the idea.  Even in parking lots and on our very quiet cul-de-sac, I remind them because you just never know.
3. Brushing their teeth. I’ve suffered endlessly with my poor oral habits, and so I have insisted that they have a better understanding of why they need to brush, not just a standard “BECAUSE”. 
4. Name & address.  Not every kid will always know this information, and I fear that it’ll be my kid that gets lost at the fair, store or mall and not know how to tell police where to find us.
5. Compassion.  My kids have always been taught to look at both sides of a situation and to try and understand what the other person is going through in a conflict – or when we come across someone who is less fortunate than us – and look for ways to help.

Of course, only in a perfect world would my children REMEMBER these things all the time, but I like to think that with some gentle reinforcement, they’ll keep them safe, happy and loving.

Thank you to TwitterMoms for giving me the opportunity to reflect on these things.  What 5 lessons would you want to instill in your kids?

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I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

I was very fortunate to attend BlogHer ’10 this past weekend, and meet so many wonderful people. I also learned about a great many products and projects that are taking place and one of the ones I wanted to share with you, my readers, is Clorox’s Power a Bright Future grant contest.

Imagine a world without school sports, music or arts programs.  Recently, nationwide budget cuts threaten to make this a reality.  The Clorox Company understands that these programs can be critical to a child’s educational experience, building both academic and social skills.  As part of the brand’s long-term commitment to schools and keeping children’s futures happy, healthier and shining bright, Clorox is launching the 2010 Power A Bright Future grant contest to help fund these vital school programs.

About the Power A Bright Future Grant Program

• Power A Bright Future is a grant program aimed at providing necessary resources to help support school programs that enrich kids’ lives.

• As part of Power A Bright Future, Clorox is calling on individuals to nominate schools in need for a chance to win a $50,000 grand-prize grant or one of three $20,000 grants to help provide critically needed resources to schools programs that enrich kids’ lives and create brighter futures.

• In November, four schools will be chosen to receive grants and the opportunity to impact the lives of children in their communities.

How can I get involved?

There are two ways to get involved – by nominating a school program or by voting for your favorite nomination.

• To nominate your school, visit www.clorox.com from August 12 to September 27, 2010 and upload a photo and a short summary of how the grant would be used. Choose one of three categories that best represents the program: Learn, Play or Create.
  • Learn: Education-focused programs (e.g. establishing a school recycling program)
  • Play: Sports and exercise-focused programs (e.g. building a playground)
  • Create: Arts-focused programs (e.g. funding an after-school music program)
• Once nominations are closed, visit www.clorox.com from October 5 to November 1 to vote for your favorite program. It is up to America to choose the winner!
  • The program that receives the highest number of votes will be awarded the $50,000 grand-prize grant; the next top three vote-getters will each be awarded a $20,000 grant. The final Power A Bright Future grant winners will be announced on or around December 8.
• To increase your favorite program’s chances of winning, vote early and often! Also, visit www.clorox.com for more information about the instant win games.

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DISCLOSURE:  As noted, I attended Clorox’s 2010 BlogHer session where I received free product samples and giveaways.

This year, for the FIRST time ever, I am going to be attending the mega-huge blogging conference, BlogHer.  It’s a big step for me, one that I’ve had to really think about and decide if I really – really felt that spending that kind of money was *worth* the effort and time away from the family (who are we kidding?).  But seriously, $200 just for the conference pass (that includes cocktail parties, too!) – another $200 for hotel (and requires me to room with THREE other women whom I do not know!), another $80ish for train/taxi fees, and I haven’t even mentioned clothes, business cards, meals that aren’t included, postage to send my stuff home, etc.etc.

Following in the footsteps of some very smart women, though, I am seeking some sponsorship partners to help me attend the conference without breaking my very small bank account.  The sponsor(s) will be listed on my business cards, as well as on the bottom of every post I write both here and at Coming to a Nursery Near You for all BlogHer related posts.  Oh – and PRIME real estate over there on the side bar! 

While attending BlogHer, I plan on attending several parties on Thursday, Friday AND Saturday nights, as well as partaking in all that the conference has to offer in terms of networking, networking and networking!  So I fully plan on handing out every single one of those business cards (hey, anyone want to SPONSOR the cards? )! 

Seriously, as a mom on a shoestring budget that is what this blog runs on, I am really looking forward to the incredible opportunities to grow my blog as only a blogging conference can offer.  So if you are a PR person who has something to offer, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m all ears, and SOOOOO excited!!