Shaping up—Just another part of your awesome parenting job

Shorts. T-shirts. Bathing suits.  They’re coming. Cue the Jaws music.

At first, the idea of warm weather (especially after that unfortunate arctic blast we experienced earlier this week) is a pretty happy one. And then, something hits me.

In a few weeks, people are going to be seeing a lot more of me.  I don’t mean I’ll be busier. I mean they’ll be seeing more of me. As in, legs, arms, and maybe even (don’t say it!) a midriff. That’s because summer clothes are on the horizon. And I know I’ve got to get serious about getting in shape.

It’s not that I don’t want to work out. It’s just that with preschool, gymnastics, getting Easter baskets together, potty training, changing diapers, making and washing bottles, (deep breath) feeding the family, grocery shopping, playing dress-up and Disney princess Little People, and getting some work done, there’s not much time…

But then I get a hold of myself. Excuses get me nowhere, and besides, working out isn’t really about looking a certain way. It’s so I can be healthy and feel good about myself, two things parents need in spades.

Edmond has a variety of workout options, many of which provide childcare (see a list here), so my excuses continue to dry up. Take, for example, Edmond’s YMCA. Fitness equipment, a pool, and an awesome lineup of classes satisfy all kinds of workout needs. Then there’s something more unique, like the Barre3 workout, a combination of Pilates, yoga, and ballet (and the studio also provides childcare), or a variety of other gyms that cater to your personal fitness goals.

The list goes on and on. We’ve got parks, running clubs and trails, twenty-four hour gyms, golf courses and aquatic centers. Even just strolling through the aisles of Academy or Dicks can give you an idea of what might inspire you to get moving.

If you’re still lacking motivation or feeling guilty about taking time for yourself, take a tip from Edmond mom, Misty Kennedy, and her facebook page, Foxy Moms 4 Fitness, which encourages and supports moms working out.  

“If I am having a bad day, I work out, and if I am having a good day, I work out. I need that time to recharge to be a better mom.”

Because, when it comes down to it, just a little activity goes a long way toward having a longer, healthier life. And that’s one of the biggest gifts we can give our children.

So bring on the treadmill…

Edmond fitness centers with childcare

barre3
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Edmond YMCA
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Fitness 19
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Golds Gym
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Results Fitness USA
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Trails YMCA
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Transformation Fitness Center
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If you feel your service or business fits this list and would like it to be added, or you would like to be removed from this list, please email mmcoxbooks@live.com.

Hunting down awesome Easter traditions

So, Easter is early this year, and I’m staring at my daughter’s lovely, sleeveless dress thinking, how does Easter always seem to arrive before the weather and I are ready?
Well, there’s no time to whine about it. I have too much to accomplish. And now that I’ve entered an era where my kids will remember the extra little things I do to make the day special, it’s time to come up with a winning Easter game plan.

Here are my eight steps, in particular order, for creating a perfect lead-up to Easter joy. Why eight? Why not eight?

1.     Learn a rockin' Easter Bunny song. When my daughter asked me to sing a song about the Easter Bunny this week (something akin to “Here Comes Santa Claus”), the best I could come up with was “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.” She was not impressed. Time for me to do a little rabbit hunting on YouTube.

2.    Talk about the true meaning of Easter. For some it may be about chickies, bunnies, and chocolate eggs, but for many, we’ll want to emphasize the meaning of the day—God’s sacrifice and love—even if we are inhaling pastel-colored M&Ms.

3.     Attend an Easter bunny meet & greet. Okay, I’ll admit it. My name is Megan Cox, and I am afraid of the Easter Bunny. Does the rabbit suit really have to be so big and creepy? The Quail Springs Mall has Easter Bunny Photos, but I’m tempted to take the kiddos to Petsmart and let them check out a real “Easter Bunny” from behind glass.

4.    Get ready, get set, egg hunt. These things are popping up all over the city. See a list of local events here. If you don’t have the time to get to one of these nifty shindigs, you might set up an Easter egg hunt with friends or neighbors, or even just Daddy versus the kiddos. Let me tell you, having been subjected to family egg hunts as a child, the home videos make for many laughs decades later.

5.    Search for the perfect bunny. I’m one of those traditionalists—a new bunny each year. The issue is finding ones that are unique. Hobby Lobby isn’t a bad place to start (it’s not usually as picked over as Walmart or Target), but if you’re creative, you might come up with something better. I always thought, if I could actually sew, that putting bunny ears on different types of stuffed animals would make for a fun Easter bunny tradition (think Cadbury).

6.    Buy a snazzy Easter outfit. This is already checked off for me. But for parents still shopping, the good thing is those Easter outfits will probably get marked down next week, so even if you don’t have first pick of the selection, you may get a great deal.

7.    Find an Easter service. Edmond is an area with churches, and lots of ‘em. Maybe you’re not a frequent churchgoer, but don’t be ashamed to be an Easter/Christmas attendee. Most churches I know have a “the more the merrier” approach.

8.    Go "Martha Stewart" on a bunny cake. Maybe you’re like me, and Martha Stewart is a complete enigma. Never fear, even the most novice cooks (how I am still a novice after so many years of practice is a question I’m sure my husband has often pondered) can try their hand at a bunny cake (see examples here).

 

     Because, at the end of the day, you won’t remember how many chocolate eggs you ate, but the pictures and traditions—those are priceless.

 

 

Easter Egg Hunts

Myriad Gardens

Oklahoma City Zoo

Orr Family Farm

Sam Noble Museum

See Edmond-specific events here

See other local 2013 events here

To spring break and back (in one day)

Spring break is almost here! I remember the excitement I felt when I was a student—especially in college—about having an entire week off from the grind and the opportunity to travel.

But now, things are a little different. For a few years, as a professional woman, the arrival of spring break didn’t even make an impression on me. I took my vacation when I took my vacation, and most often, it was not in March. Then, I started working from home when I had kids, and suddenly, I was reintroduced to the weeklong hiatus from everything school.

Am I excited about a week with no preschool? Of course! Absolutely! It’s awesome!

Okay, so maybe I’m trying too hard. The real issue is that I’ve got to find time to get a little work done, but I also want to make an effort to do some special activities with the kiddos. We’re not headed for any weeklong vacation, but I got to thinking, there must be some awesome day trips that would feel like an actual trip, but without the expensive hotels, tanks of gas, and a weeks-worth of meals.

So here are three options you could drive to and back in a single day. My kids, both under the age of four, may be a little young yet for these, but I get excited just thinking about the fun of these future adventures.  

1.    Tulsa. The second largest city in Oklahoma will feel like a trip to a big city, but you won’t need to spend too much time on the highway (it’s just an hour and a half from Edmond). The city offers a zoo, aquarium, air and space museum, water park, art museums, and several  beautiful parks. Of course, OKC has most of those things too, but Tulsa offers a chance to get out of town without going too far afield.

2.     AlabasterCaverns State Park. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited this attraction, but let me tell you, for any spelunking enthusiasts (or not, I mean, you don’t have to love caves to enjoy it) this is a hotspot. The three-quarter mile cavern is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and tours run on the hour. The drive is just under three hours from Edmond, so it’s probably not a bad idea to plan a breakfast and/or dinner stop to add to the fun.

3.     Arbuckle Wilderness. Then there’s the always popular Arbuckle Wilderness. Also just an hour and a half from Edmond, this destination is a kid-pleaser for sure. With roaming exotic animals, go-karts, rides, and their Safari store, everyone is bound to have a little fun.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Oklahoma has so much to offer for every age. Sometimes it just takes cozying up to Google for an hour or talking to in-the-know friends to find a creative outing that makes for an exciting trip—one where everyone still sleeps in his or her own bed at the end of the day.

How to survive a cold (over and over and over again)

My husband and I call our two young children the Ebola monkeys. I know this seems harsh, but let me assure you it is a term of affection. Mostly. The thing is, ever since we had kids, we've had an up-close-and-personal relationship with those twins, Nyquil and Dayquil, and I can't remember any week during the past four winters where I wasn't wiping snot from someone's nose.

In fact, just last week, I finally caved and took myself to Mercy’s Quail Brook Clinic (which also happens to be home to my longsuffering primary care physicians). The visit was triggered by a nasty earache. The doctor prescribed a round of antibiotics and steroids, as well as plenty of fluids and rest. I nodded my head on “fluids.” I barely stifled a laugh on “rest.”

(We’re parents. Resting occurs in those small moments when I’ve parked at the grocery store and the kids are still intent on the hundredth round of Dumbo playing on the minivan’s DVD player. I think I’ve managed to lay my head on the steering wheel for up to two minutes before the yelling for a cookie begins.)

Anyway, I’ve compiled a short list for surviving whatever round of the cold you’re on. The information comes from my former life as a CDC employee, childcare workers, and good old fashioned common sense. Because at this point, preventing colds is a little pipedream only a person living on his or her own (without Ebola monkeys) would try to sell me. 

• Rest. Okay, so this is difficult to accomplish, but when suffering from a cold, you can give yourself a fighting chance by going to bed on time (or, if your kids are sick, finding ways to make them sit and relax as opposed to running around outside in the wind). And stay away from activities as much as possible. This not only keeps your immune system from combating further attacks, but it keeps you from spreading your fun little germs to others.
• Medicine. Antibiotics are awesome, but not always. Colds are often caused by viruses, so antibiotics aren’t going to do squat for those illnesses. However, if your cold leads to something else, such as a persnickety earache, you need to talk to a doctor about treating the infection. Here’s a list of urgent care centers to help you get seen in a pinch. Of course, if you’re dealing with a virus, over-the-counter cold medicines may not cure you immediately, but they sure make those symptoms a lot easier to handle.
• Wash, wash, and wash some more. Finally, fighting colds still comes down to avoiding germs through good hygiene. This feels like pushing a rock up a hill when you have little ones who have a special knack for giving you a hug and then sneezing directly on your face, or sticking their fingers up their noses and then touching every surface in your house. But Clorox and Lysol are happy to help us out with antibacterial wipes, and the praises of handwashing can’t be sung enough.

So keep your chin up. Spring is almost here. :)

List of Urgent Care Centers Serving Edmond

Access Medical Center

First Med Urgent Care

Integris Health Edmond

Kids First Pediatric After Hours Clinic

Mercy Convenient Care

OU Medical Center Edmond

If you feel your service or business fits this list and would like it to be added, or you would like to be removed from this list, please email mmcoxbooks@live.com.