In preparation for having children, I devoured books about how to take care of diaper rash. How to check for signs of dehydration. How to administer CPR on an infant. Once the children arrived and I felt like I’d mastered infancy, I sought out the books that discussed things like “how to raise confident girls” and “self-disciplined children.” Before I knew it, I was needing literature on “how to talk about sex with your adolescent.”

But here’s something that nobody tells you before you bring children into this world. It helps to learn “how to be fast on your feet.” And I don’t mean when working the dance floor. It doesn’t matter if I’m dealing with a child, a customer, or that rude lady waiting behind me at the checkout counter, I’m always three days late with a quick answer that puts a stop to the conversation that needs to be stopped. And, 99 percent of the time, three days is just too long. I have yet to meet the person who appreciates the phone call that starts with, “And this is what I MEANT to say to you three days ago!”

My ten-year-old daughter came home from school last week and asked me if it would be OK for her to start shaving her legs. I simply said NO. And maybe that should have been the end of it. But when she asked why, it would have been nice if I had prepared a succinct answer that went,”Because *fill in the blank here with a great parable, metaphor, or analogy* The End. “But I wasn’t ready. In my defense, I didn’t think the shaving question was going to happen for, like, another three YEARS. And so, like so many other times, she caught me unaware and the best answer I could come up with was, Read on …

Every pregnancy ends.

Ideally, a pregnancy ends with an ice-chip-fueled marathon of contracting, pushing, or with the flash of a scalpel in an operating room. A bundled baby with goopy eyes and a little hat is placed into welcoming arms, at last. Cameras capture, footprints are rocked onto scrapbook paper, a name is given. When you want to have a baby, this is the dream come true.

Unfortunately, 25% of pregnancies do not have a happy outcome. They end too early, in miscarriage or stillbirth.

I have had four miscarriages. My most recent pregnancy loss was this past March, so it is still fresh and the wound slightly raw. I’ve found that many people don’t know what to say. Why should they? While a lot of women have found themselves in this club, most have not.
Read on …

Editor’s Note: A special welcome to all our first-time visitors from The Colorado Women’s Expo! We are pleased to announce that Jenny Gallegos of Aurora is the contest winner for our weekend stay at family-friendly Summit Cove in Keystone.

Stay tuned for details on our Giveaway a Day ‘Til Mother’s Day Extravaganza and don’t forget to enter our Favorite Family Dinner Recipe Contest for the chance to be featured in The Denver Post!

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I never fancied myself a ballerina, which is particularly ironic since I’m walking on my tiptoes a lot these days. And also on eggshells.

My 21-month-old Bode has transformed almost overnight from a loving, cuddly, easy-going angel to an often possessed, tantruming toddler. Of course, I know I should have expected that such bliss could not last.

I remember shortly after my daughter Hurricane Hadley turned 3 she went through a phrase I called The Tyrant. When I offered suggestions for a snack, I braced myself for the unleashing of how dare I even suggest something so unthinkable as apples. When I pretended to turn her into a princess with my magic wand, I was sent to the dungeons because I held the wand at the wrong angle. Anything set her off, which made me wonder if she had some kind of chemical imbalance.

Or if it was the fact that she was 3.

I’ve heard from some that the 3s are worse than the 2s. Doubting Thomas that I was, I didn’t buy in. But then there I was: sold out.

We had one uncharacteristically good day with what I would consider to be a reasonable amount of T.O.N. (Tantrums Over Nothing). Read on …

To my beloved husband,

XO
Amber

This year, families looking to forgo the traditional Mother’s Day gifts can treat mom to a moving feast, combined with unbelievable mountain scenery, on-board the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.

The special “Throw Momma on the Train” excursion offers a new way to roll on Mother’s Day and get a sneak peek of the train’s five newly remodeled 1950s-era dome cars, offering panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, almost two weeks before the regular season begins.

Along with breathtaking views of the San Luis Valley, the outing includes a brunch buffet featuring Rio Grande Dark Roast coffee, fresh fruit, crepes, muffins, hash browns and champagne. Read on …

Editor’s Note: Are you joining us for the ultimate Girl’s Weekend Out at the Colorado Women’s Expo this weekend? Mile High Mamas will be there with loads of giveaways. Scroll down to see some of the fun!

One of the things I love most about Front Range Adventure Boot Camp is the cohesive community of women - a kind of bonding that can only be achieved through mutual suffering success.

The same could be said about The Boot Camp Biggest Loser Club, though it is more about sharing. And disdain for The Scale. Prior to attending my first meeting, I pictured a giant-sized one with everyone standing around gawking. Fortunately, weigh-ins are much more discreet but for the first time this week, The Scale was not Foe but Friend.

After we finished weighing in, Life Coach Robyn called out, “There is a problem with the accuracy of the weight on the scale today.”

Silence.

Finally, a brave person queried, “Errr…is the weight more or less?”

“It is adding three pounds to everyone’s weight.”

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N TIME.

So without further ado, my weekly weigh loss is Read on …

Mile High Mamas will have a booth at the Colorado Women’s Expo this weekend! We have partnered with many fantastic companies (including Universal Pictures and Sony Films) and will announce our Mother’s Day Giveaway Extravaganza. Swing by, say “hi” and brown nose me for the chance to win:

Grand prize: A weekend stay at family-friendly Summit Cove condos in Keystone!

Other prizes include:

*Tickets to The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ The Last 5 Years

*Movie tickets to Patrick Dempsey’s new movie Made of Honor

*Darling T-shirts for Made of Honor and Tina Fey’s Baby Mama

*Leatherheads movie calendars

*Family four-pack of tickets to Heritage Square’s Spring Thing

*Alvin and the Chipmunks DVDs and soundtrack

*The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears

The Adventures of Mom by J. Kaspar Barnes

There will also be chocolate and Made of Honor bubbles for the kids. Don’t miss the chance to win many great prizes!

Oh, and did I mention treats?…..

Declan: “Daddy! Mama and I just made smoothies!”

Bryan: “Really?! What is in ‘em?”

Declan: “Oranges, Grape, Strawberries, Yogurt, Ice and Milk.”

Bryan: “Cool! What do you call it? You should come up with some fun, funky name.”

Declan: “Orange Grape Strawberry Yogurt Milk Ice Smoothie”

Bryan: {Pause} “Well. That is descriptive. And looong.”