parenting Archives — Page 2 of 3 — Everyday Cori By Corine Ingrassia

No-Fail Potty Training Tips

November 5, 2016 By Cori

This week marks Avery’s 3rd birthday and the completion of his potty training!

Of all three of our kids Avery is has trained the youngest and quickest– partially because we had a goal to have him trained for our Disney Cruise later this month.

After training 3 kids with 3 totally different personalities, there have definitely been things that didn’t work and others that worked with all three. So today I’m teaming up with Pampers Easy Ups to tell you a little bit about our potty training experience and pass on some tips that have worked for me as a 3 time potty training veteran!

*Sponsored by Pampers

#LiveUnlimited: Sometimes Inspiration Comes In Unexpected Ways, From Unexpected People

July 20, 2016 By Cori

Last year, our daughter – former daisy picker and butterfly chaser on the soccer field– decided she wanted to try competitive cheer.

No experience stunting, jumping and barely able to do a forward roll, she arrived at the doorstep of her cheer team completely green, was welcomed with open arms– and for the first time in her 6 years of life– she was more than a little nervous.

I remember her coming over to me crying during the water break at her first practice. When I asked what was wrong she confided in me, through tears “I don’t know how to do the things the other girls can do. I keep messing up.”

My heart sank a little. When she played soccer, she never cried that she couldn’t play as well as the other kids. In fact, I’m not sure she even cared enough to notice- but this was different- this was something she wanted to do but was scared she couldn’t.

Her coach noticed she was upset, took her aside and explained to her that every one of those girls started where she was and that with hard work and practice, she could learn to do what they were doing also.

She mustered up the courage to continue and ended up having a year full of great memories with new friends, team work, a few medals… and just like that she fell in love with cheer.

Now at the beginning of a new season, my once intimidated little girl came to me confidently with a goal– to get her back walk-over by the end of summer–a relatively basic step for some, but for her tumbling has been a challenge.

So in addition to her weekly cheer practices, we set up some private lessons and every time we enter the car to a practice she energetically says, “I’m going to get it today, Mom! I know I can do it!”

She continues to say this –enthusiastically– even after she doesn’t “get it”.

She sounds like the poster child for goal-digging.

She works hard but doesn’t get discouraged or hung up on failure.

Every day for her is a like fresh page.

Basically, the polar opposite of me as a child.

Whose child is this? Are we sure she’s mine?

Can you imagine how refreshing each day would be if we all had that attitude toward our own challenges and goals?

“I’m going to get it today! I know I can do it!”

Fast forward 3 weeks, and this happened….

Technically this is considered a “kick over”– not a walk over…

Technically she still doesn’t nail it every time– or most times…

And Technically, in the tumbling world, this is somewhat of a baby step to her end goals…

BUT she is growing stronger, more determined and closer to her goal every day.

Don’t Limit Your Challenges. Challenge Your Limits.

Inspirational Jewelry company, Endorphin Warriors recently teamed up with Muscular Dystrophy Association for their “Live Unlimited” campaign to help kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases live longer and grow stronger and and also remind people that no matter what limits life may bring, you have the inner strength to defy them.

This tumbling “milestone”, if you will, happened the same week I signed on to team up with MDA and Endorphin Warrior to raise awareness for their Live Unlimited campaign.

So, after a long day of tumbling – one where she did not nail her new kick over skill for her coaches as she had hoped– I popped into her room and gave her a #LiveUnlimited bracelet and let her know how proud I was of her hard work, determination and positive outlook towards a goal that has been challenging for her.

Sometimes Inspiration is completely unexpected.

When we think of people who inspire us, we usually think of people who have gained years of life-experience beyond our own– parents, grandparents, teachers, mentors– but sometimes inspiration comes in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, from unexpected people.

At only 7 years old, this little girl’s determination to overcome challenges, can-do attitude and enthusiasm for her dreams inspire me in ways she may never know.

Who or what inspires you to #LiveUnlimited?

Share your Live Unlimited moment or inspiration on social media. Throughout the end of July, $1 (up to $30,000!) will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for every #LiveUnlimited image created and shared via the web tool.

Want to purchase a bracelet of your own?

You can purchase one here. $6 from the sale of each LIVE UNLIMITED bracelet goes directly to MDA to support groundbreaking research, clinical care for kids and adults from day one and services and support for families in hometowns across America.

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About Live Unlimited:

Live Unlimited is MDA’s campaign to inspire all of us to transform our perceived limits into unlimited possibilities. It was inspired by the strength and courage of MDA families who do remarkable things every day despite the physical and societal limits diseases like muscular dystrophy and ALS often create. Their unyielding resolve is a reminder to be relentless in our pursuit to defy limits while giving kids and adults living with muscle-debilitating diseases more Live Unlimited moments. To learn more about MDA’s Live Unlimited campaign, visit: mda.org/LiveUnlimited

Take Your Child To Work Day: The Blogger Edition

April 23, 2015 By Cori

Take your child to work day is something our kids look forward to every year.

Typically, their day is spent in New York City with my husband. Together they ride the bus into the big city, visit an office, meet co-workers and (possibly their favorite part)… lunch and FroYo.

Except this year, the stars did not align and my husband’s work schedule did not work out with this special day.

They were bummed.

So in an attempt to make-good, I said they could “go to work” with me!

At first, my suggestion was met with a puzzled look.

Sure, it’s untraditional and technically my office is in the house that they live in and not in a cool sky-scraping NYC building, but surely we could make the day a fun learning experience– right?

No matter if we parents are executives, stay at home parents, or work at home parents, it’s always beneficial for kids to see and have a basic understanding to what their parents daily responsibilities are.

Take Your Child To Work Day: My Mom’s A Blogger

9am– We gathered in the “cafeteria” for smoothies. Judging by the attire they showed up in (above) they clearly had different ideas of what my day looked like. We talked about what we had on tap for the day and cleaned up breakfast.

10am– We held a brainstorming meeting in my office to come up with the names and focus of the blogs they were going to create.

10:30am– They helped me keep the baby entertained while I hopped on a conference call. Ryan even dressed the baby! (He is took this co-worker thing seriously)

11am– 1pm While the baby napped, we did some blog designing, photography and writing.

They were given a simple assignment of giving a tour of their rooms and coming up with a top 5 list.

We talked about the things they loved.

The things they would want to share with people.

Internet safety and privacy– No last names, addresses, schools, etc.

We spoke about how the internet is a public place where everyone, everywhere can see the things that we post, so we need to make smart decisions. I explained that we never put in a blog or any form of social media anything that would hurt someone’s feelings or that we would be embarrassed to have a parent or teacher read.

They drafted their posts, took pictures and really got into it.

1:30pm– They each hit POST!

2pm–I am here writing you as we get ready to go to a late lunch at their favorite spot, Panera Bread.

I personally have gotten little to nothing done but am so happy to have given them a little closer glimpse into what it is I actually “do” on the computer.

So without further adieu, I present to you their new slivers of the internet (which they named completely on their own, btw!)….

Ryan’s Daily Dribble

Laina’s Dresses And Messes

What’s In My Bag: Essentials For Busy Ladies With Crazy Days

March 30, 2015 By Cori

What do you keep in your “go-bag”?

Disclosure: Folgers® is a paid sponsor of Complicated Mama.com. This post was written in partnership with Folgers and SocialStars. As always we only partner with brands we personally love and use. All thoughts, opinions and advice is my own.

Wee Bit O Irish & Miscellany {Photo Heavy}

March 17, 2014 By Cori

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

St Patricks Day Baby Photography ideas — … Can I buy you a drink? A Green baba of milk, maybe?

Today we took some fun St. Patrick’s Day pictures so I thought I’d share and give some updates.

Avs Babes is now 4 months old {Woah. I know.}. Time flies, but take it from me it flies quicker than you can imagine when time is being kept by the growth of your very last baby.

VERY. LAST. BABY… 3 words I never thought would cause such a pang to the heart, but it does (and somewhere the frazzled 25 year old me, that was struggling to re-find herself in her new role of Mom, is rolling her eyes). After this last c-section, my doctor advised us to not have another …. And don’t get me wrong, 4 kids was never on the table for discussion anyway… like AT. ALL, but the finality of it all–

Lindsay from Suburban Turmoil described it perfectly in her post, “The Last One“…. Every one of his “firsts” is one of my lasts. It’s bitter sweet and I can’t help but feel like a chapter of my life is coming to an end, – as dramatic as that may sound when he’s only 4 months old.

I’m reminded of this closing chapter a lot these past few weeks, as we play on the floor with Avs and wait for him to turn over for the very first time. Yes, he’s still not turning. He gets close- but then he rolls back on his back again… and if I’m being honest? For right now, I’m ok with that. Take your time little man, mama’s trying to soak it all in.

Earlier this month was Avery’s Christening.

And we started introducing him to solids.

With my older two, rice cereal did not go over well and we very quickly moved on to Oatmeal, so this time I thought I’d just skip over rice … except that Avery hates oatmeal.

He LOVES Rice cereal though- Go figure.

Oh, and I’m not the only one who is feeling the time flying these days. The kids are in absolute awe that the baby is now being spoon fed. In just one short week, they’ve become “here come the airplane” pros.

We started adding a little fruit with the cereal and so today, Ry came home from school and excitedly pulled out a small container of apple sauce he had saved from his lunch…. for Avery. Of course when it came to feeding time, I had to do the whole bait and switch but he thought he was feeding the baby his apple sauce and the proud look on his face was priceless.

Oh and hey, can I just mention that Ry is going to be 9 next month? N I N E… {GAH!!!!} Make it stop. Seemingly over night he went from reenacting Cake Boss episodes with Play-doh and MegaBloks, to reenacting LeBron James’ “lobs” and obsessing over sneakers. (*tear*)

In related news, like many other parents, FROZEN has taken over our home and our heads. We wake up to it, we go to sleep to it.. and so as we watch the baby grow at warp speed, I’m also trying to soak in and bottle up moments like the ones below.

Yep. I’m a pretty lucky lady.

How Does She Do It? Staying Energized And Recharging As A Mom Of Three

February 4, 2014 By Cori

Since becoming a Mom of 3, who continues to work from home with a newborn, I often get asked “How do you do it all??” The truth is, I don’t do it all. Not every day. Balance is a big-fat-evil lie.

Just ask this little guy below, he is with me 24/7. Look at his face, he’s all “Ut-o, is tonight a basketball practice night?”

Juggling day-to-day life for an entire family is hard, you guys. Not only is it hard, sometimes it is downright exhausting!

Functioning on sleepless nights, public potty training accidents, toddler tantrums in supermarkets… Every stage of the game so far, I’ve told myself “This is only momentary. When they are older it will get easier.” And it is only momentary, but the truth is, it doesn’t get easier, it just gets… different.

Now a Mom of 3, my oldest two are school age and more self-sufficient but with school brings a whole new realm of things to juggle- like homework and after school activities. For us, we juggle this around a newborn feeding schedule- which certainly makes things more interesting.

Before we had actual kids, I think I somehow thought instinctively I’d figure out how to juggle it all. But 3 kids later, and that balance thing? Still seems a little nonexistent. There are some routines we follow every day to make things a little smoother, but with kids- you truly can never predict how the day is going to go. You have to try to expect the unexpected and be on your toes at all times.

To do this, we parents need to take care of ourselves and recharge throughout the day so that we have the energy to keep up with this parenting gig.

Team Kellogg’s Athletes are sharing their tips on how to get your day off to a great start by recharging in the morning with proteins and carbs.

This is just one of many Great Starts tips from Team Kellogg’s. You can check out all 30 tips at Kelloggs.com/GreatStartsTips

In addition to recharging at the beginning of the day, I also need to recharge throughout the day, so I always carrying quick on-the-go snacks on extra busy days… because sometimes the day is SO busy, its easy to forget meals or the in-between snacks that help us keep going. So alongside the diapers and burp clothes, in my bag you will always find a snack bar of some sort, like Kellogg’s FiberPlus Antioxidant Protein Bars or Kellogg’s Special K Bars.

Obviously, exercise is also ideal to help with energy throughout the day, but admittedly, I don’t always get to fit this in as often as I’d like (see what I mean about not doing “it all”).

My quick in-between snacks don’t make me bionic (though, wouldn’t it be cool if they did?). I still don’t “do it all” in one day, but I am able to stay energized and keep up with my day so that the things that truly MUST be done are taken care of.

What do you do to recharge during your day?

Kellogg’s® believes that From Great Starts Come Great Things®. So we’re helping Moms start every day with a tip from the top athletes of Team Kellogg’s™ and Team USA dietitians. The thirty days leading up to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will each feature fun pieces of advice to help families fuel just like the athletes of Team Kellogg’s. To see all 30 tips, visit Kelloggs.com/GreatStartsTips

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Kellogg’s via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Kellogg’s.