MamaBlogger365 - Making a List by Jennifer Flaten

MamaBlogger365 contributor Jennifer Flaten's given up on Christmas cards, but doesn't mind if you haven't...

This time of year, the only writing I am doing involves lists. Either I am helping the kids write their lists to Santa or I am writing my Santa’s helper list. Not to mention all those gift tags...

That’s okay; it is fun. I love this time of year and even though our area remains without snow (and it’s raining today), I still have the Christmas spirit. I have to; I have kids. When you have kids, it’s mandatory that you have the Christmas spirit.

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MamaBlogger365 - Take a Letter... by Jennifer Flaten

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned handwritten letter? I know I love getting them, which is why I am thrilled that my son - a third grader - is required to write one letter a week.

The letters, nearly illegible due to his lack of interest in penmanship, come home each week in a special spiral notebook.

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MamaBlogger365 - It's Perfect, Now Change It by Jennifer Flaten

This weekend I helped my daughter edit her “Slice of Life” essay; it is her first writing project for fifth grade. Now, I wanted to help her have a great essay, yet I didn’t want to commandeer the project and be one of “those moms”.

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MamaBlogger365 - Fall Back into Learning by Jennifer Flaten

School is in session. At parent night, the 5th grade teachers announced that this year’s writing program would focus on editing and revising.

The whole room chuckled when the teacher commented that kids love to write but hate to edit and revise.

While I laughed along, I have to agree; I love writing, but editing and revising... not so much.

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Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.


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Photo credit: Old Typewriter by Petr Kratochvil

MamaBlogger365 - Just a Minute by Jennifer Flaten

Can I get a minute? Just one tiny minute to jot down this idea for a story or an article.

I promise I need only a second or two to write this thought down, but first I have to finish making this sandwich, find a piece of paper, clean up a spill, then grab a pen.

Wait -- why am I holding this pen? I was going to write something down, but now I can’t remember.

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Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.

Photo credit: Watch by Peter Griffin

MamaBlogger365 - Dramatic and Magnificent by Jennifer Flaten

Even though I am a writer, I could never could get in the habit of keeping a journal.

As a kid, I had the standard issue diary with the little lock. More often than not, I lost the key or the journal or simply decided I had nothing interesting to write about.

As I grew into an adult, every once in awhile, lured by the gorgeous covers of the blank journals, I would buy one and promise myself I would start writing in it.

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Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.

Photo credit: Notepad by Anna Cervova

MamaBlogger365 - Brain Drain by Jennifer Flaten

Summer vacation is here.

On the last day of school, the kids came home with packets and worksheets on various subjects.

As always, their teachers are worried about summer brain drain. They know that kids will lose momentum over the summer and often fall back or behind unless they keep up with their work.

I am well armed to protect my kids from summer brain drain. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for myself.... read more

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Photo credit: Lazy Days by Jon Luty

MamaBlogger365 - Easy as ABC by Jennifer Flaten

As much as I enjoy reading bedtime stories with my kids -- in fact, I can’t imagine life without Skippy Jon Jones and Knuffle Bunny -- I am really excited that the kids are getting old enough to read novels. Read more...

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MamaBlogger365 - Here Comes Summer! by Jennifer Flaten

For most moms, your school-aged childrens' summer vacation presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Here, Jennifer Flaten shares her ups and downs...
The summer vacation countdown has begun; I’ve got about 30 days until the kids are home all day-every day. It is totally cliché but I really don’t know where the time goes.

Truthfully, with vacation looming, I am having feelings of both dread and anticipation; anticipation because, I don’t know about other moms, but I am so ready for summer vacation....read more

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Photo credit School Bus by Peter Griffin

MamaBlogger365 - "So, What Did You Do All Day?" by Jennifer Flaten

It's inevitable that at a certain age, our children begin to realize that we, as their mothers, are indeed separate people and wonder what we do while they're away at school:

Each day after school, my son hops in the car and asks, “So, what did you do all day?”

Trust me; nothing makes you feel more inadequate than having to list your accomplishments for the day to a seven-year-old. To be fair, he is really sweet for asking and he truly seems to want to know what I do all day. read more

How Jennifer Found Her Voice - By Jennifer Flaten for MamaBlogger365

Like other aspiring writers, I have to squeeze writing in between everything else I do.  Because maintaining the house and herding the kids isn't enough excitement (kidding) I work at an audio visual company two days a week. The kids are a huge encouragement (no really) they love that I have my picture and articles in the paper.... FULL STORY.

MamaBlogger 365 is 'reframing motherhood', engaging bloggers, (m)others, feminists, activists, artists and everyday women in discussions about contemporary motherhood, with a twist. How do mothers maintain their sanity? What are the issues facing mothers today? When work and home collide, how do people find ways to nurture themselves and stay strong. This is not your average marketing blog and we're not giving stuff away here - other than information and encouragement, to assist you in our authentic, passionate and empowered journey! Thank you for helping us raise awareness about the Museum Of Motherhood, and if you'd like to contribute a blog send your story about 'reframing motherhood' to: MamazinaMagazine@gmail.com.