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Take a Money Quiz for Couples • page 12Have Fun this Fall • page 20Get Organized for School • page 30

After a very hot summer I’m looking forward to some cool autumn weather. With hay rides, pumpkin

patches and spooky Halloween fun, fall is defi nitely my favorite time of year. I’ll be checking out some of Brooke Balderson’s

recommendations for fall-focused family outings. (See page 20.) In this issue of Nesting you’ll fi nd other tips and resources for a

fantastic fall and beyond. On page 12 local author Melissa Stanton (The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide) shares a fun quiz that can actually help couples avoid arguments about money. Expecting a new addition to your nest? On page 6 Jenn Morson provides information about natural birthing methods. Lastly, this month’s Check it out! is all about getting ready (as in “organized”) for your child’s new school year. Enjoy!

Kim O’Brien

2 Nesting • September/October 2010 nestingmagazine.com

Publisher’s Letter

Enjoy!

Kim O’Brien

Contents


Having a Baby, the Old-Fashioned WaySome natural childbirth methods can help make deliveries more relaxing.

In Your Game of LIFE, Who Gets to Be the Banker?Take our money quiz for couples.

Fall Into Great Family ActivitiesEnjoy these autumn festivals.

Nesting Support

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Nesting R

publisherKim O’Brien

Creative directorMolly Zlokovitz Design

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Contributors Brooke Balderson, Terry Cooch

Jenn Morson, Melissa Stanton

account executiveStephanie Nevin

distribution ManagerKernan Bussiere

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advertising design ConsultantJennifer Goodman, JGoGraphics

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Cover Photographby Catherine Pelura

Pictured: Isabella and Aidan Pelura ages 6 and 4


HAVING A BABY,the Old-Fashioned Wayby Jenn Morson

More and more

of today’s mothers

are choosing natural

childbirth. These

methods can help

make deliveries safer,

more relaxing,

and even less painful.

HypnobirtHingNesting’s own Kim O’Brien is a certified hypnobirthing instructor. After seeing a segment about the method on Dateline NBC in 1999, O’Brien decided to try hypnobirthing when delivering her daughter, Lucy. Since she couldn’t find a local practitioner, she became an instructor herself! According to O’Brien, the Mongan Method (the official term for hypnobirthing) teaches couples a combination of deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, visualization and breathing techniques. Instructors also teach about nutrition, labor, perineal and light touch massage, and how to avoid artificial induction. Hypnobirthing takes the fear out of birthing and teaches pregnant women to be calm and relaxed. Pain can be lessened and even eliminated. A typical hypnobirthing course occurs once a week for five weeks and includes a book and CDs for practice and use on the birthing day. O’Brien takes care to note that “hypnobirthing is not something done to you.” Because of that, it’s something

Continued on the next page


a woman needs to practice in order to develop a heightened sense of awareness about what her body and baby are doing. For more information on hypnobirthing, visit hypnobirthing.com. Kim O’Brien’s website is annapolishypnobirthing.com.

tHe bradley MetHodThe Bradley Method is a 12 week course based on the philosophy “Healthy Baby, Healthy Mother, and Healthy Families.” With Bradley, physical training is essential, and several exercises are outlined in the Bradley workbook to ensure proper training for a drug-free delivery. Dr. Robert A. Bradley, the creator of the method, refers to birth as a “sporting event.” Breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise, and education are all a part of the Bradley Method, which encourages women to

trust their bodies and boasts a 90 percent success rate for unmedicated births. Since coaches are an essential element of Bradley, the method is often called “husband-coached birthing.” For more information and for local instructors, visit bradleybirth.com.

birtHing froM WitHinAfter undergoing a highly-unplanned cesarean, Pam England set out to educate herself, and eventually others. The result: Birthing from Within, which is spiritually-based and considers childbirth to be a rite of passage rather than a medical event. Self-discovery rather than childbirth education is encouraged and partners are referred to as “guardians” who also need support. Birthing from Within does not malign hospital births. Instead, the method encourages and supports

Continued from the previous page

nestingmagazine.com September/October 2010 • Nesting 9

expectant mothers to both know themselves and be open to what unexpected events might come about. For more about Birthing Within and its classes, visit birthingfromwithin.com.

natural CHildbirtH and beyondEvery pregnancy and delivery is different. Complications can and do arise, and a woman may find herself in need of serious medical assistance that

requires she deviate greatly from her birth plan. However, even when the unexpected happens, preparation can work wonders. Also, if you plan on or wind up having pain management during your delivery, each one of the methods described here can help you cope with and improve your laboring experience. N

Jenn Morson is a freelance writer. She lives in Crofton and has two children.

Each one of the methods

described here can help

you cope with and improve

your laboring experience.

WHO GETS TO BE

IN YOURGAME OF LIFE,

THE BANKER?by Melissa Stanton


It’s hardly a surprise that couples who fi ght about

money are 30 percent more likely to divorce

than those who don’t, as was recently reported by

the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project.

The odds are even worse when one spouse feels the

other is fi nancially reckless or irrational. In an ideal scenario, both partners are money savvy, or the one who isn’t recognizes his or her weaknesses and lets

the other control the purse strings. If it’s not readily

apparent who the fi nancial wizard is in your household,

grab your partner and a pencil and take this quiz.



SeleCt tHe anSWer tHat beSt applieS1) Which one of you is detail oriented?

A. Me B. My partner C. Both of us D. Neither of us

2) prior to getting together, which one of you paid off your credit cards each month? A. Me B. My partner C. Both of us D. Neither of us

3) if given $10,000 with no strings attached, you would: A. Buy a luxury item you’ve wanted but otherwise couldn’t afford (such as a piece of jewelry or a home entertainment system) B. Pay bills C. Put it into savings D. Use it on a home improvement, family vacation, or romantic getaway

4) How do you pay for purchases? A. Cash or debit card, sometimes overdrawing the account B. Cash or debit card, spending within a budget and/or available cash C. Credit card (and carry a balance) D. Credit card (and pay the bill in full when it’s due)

5) When shopping, how likely are you to make an impulse purchase for items sold at the cash register? (e.g. a magazine, toiletry, food item, beverage, gadget, etc.) A. Very likely B. Somewhat likely C. Unlikely D. Hardly ever or never



6) How much does each of the following typically cost your household? (don’t do any research, just guess. points go to whomever answers closest to reality.)

A. Your monthly mortgage or rent: B. Your monthly utility costs (gas, water, and/or electricity): C. Your non-mortgage loan payments (car loans, student loans): D. Your weekly grocery bills: E. The going hourly rate for a babysitter in your area:

7) name the following companies you have accounts with. (one point for each category with a correct answer.)

Auto Insurance:

Health Insurance:

Life Insurance:

Disability Insurance:

Homeowner’s/Renters Insurance:

Checking Account:

Savings Account:

Investment Accounts:

Credit Card Accounts:

How many open credit card accounts do you have together (or individually, if you keep separate accounts):

Continued on page 17


8) assume that you and/or your partner has an ira or 401(k) retirement account and you make a withdrawal from it. Which of the following scenarios is true? A. The money can be used without penalty if put toward the purchase of a primary residence. B. If you are no longer employed, the money is yours to withdraw and do with as you choose. C. If you aren’t of retirement age you’ll be taxed on the withdrawal, will be accessed a fee, and/or may need to repay the funds with interest. D. Such funds are saving accounts that you can dip into regardless of your age or employment status.

9) Which statement best reflects your feelings about shopping? A. I love, love, love, love shopping! B. I like shopping. C. I can take it or leave it. D. I shop only when I have to.

10) Which statement most accurately describes your shopping strategy? A. I grab and go. B. I look for bargains and use coupons when I have them. C. I buy what I want or need, regardless of cost. D. I use a list (either written or in my head) and pretty much stick to it.

11) What do you do with your atM slips and other financial receipts? A. Toss them in the trash. B. Shove them into my purse/briefcase/pocket. C. Record the transactions or put them in a safe place for recording later. D. Give them to my partner to do something with.

Continued from page 15


12) What do you do when the mail arrives? A. Sort and open it right away, putting the bills in a special spot. B. Put it all in a pile and open it when I get a chance. C. I don’t know, my partner deals with the mail. D. Hmm, good question.

13) it’s tax time, will you A. Pull out a folder of tax receipts and documents. B. Start looking for your tax receipts and documents. C. File for an extension. D. Hope that your partner, accountant, or someone else will figure out your tax situation.

1) a = 10, b = 0, c = 10, d = 02) a = 10, b = 0, c = 10, d = 03) a = 0, b = 10, c = 10, d = 54) a = 0, b = 10, c = 0, d = 105) a = 0, b = 3, c = 5, d = 10

6) 1 point per question for whichever partner’s answer is closest to the real cost

7) 1 point per correct answer8) a = 0, b = 0, c = 10, d = 0

9) a = 0, b = 2, c = 3, d = 510) a = 0, b = 2, c = 3, d = 511) a = 5, b = 3, c = 2, d = 012) a = 5, b = 3, c = 0, d =213) a = 5, b = 3, c = 2, d = 0

How did you do? Whomever scored higher may be the more suitable banker between the two of you. If you both have high scores, think about ways you can share the money management duties. If you both had low scores, as a couple you might want to consider financial counseling, or else seek out some financial strategies that can work in your home. N

Melissa Stanton is a freelance writer and editor and Annapolis-area mother of three. This quiz appears in her book, The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide: Field-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids (Seal Press/Perseus Books).

Scoring: a perfect score = 100 points


Local destinations for autumn funby brooke baldersonby brooke balderson

FallLocal destinations for autumn funGreat Family ActivitiesFallGreat Family ActivitiesGreat Family ActivitiesGreat Family Activities

into


Local destinations for autumn fun

HoMeStead gardenS fall feStival, davidSonvilleThe Homestead Gardens Fall Festival, held every weekend in October, features live music, rides, food, farm animals and pumpkin decorating. Admission is free, but you’ll surely wind up spending some money in Homestead’s hard-to-resist nursery and garden shop.

greenStreet gardenS Corn MaZe, lotHianGreenstreet masterminds a fantastical and fascinating corn maze that will keep your family entertained and

HoMeStead gardenS fall feStival, davidSonvilleThe Homestead Gardens Fall Festival, held every weekend in October, features live music, rides, food, farm animals and pumpkin decorating. Admission is free, but you’ll surely wind up spending some money in Homestead’s hard-to-resist nursery and garden shop.

greenStreet gardenS Corn MaZe, lotHianGreenstreet masterminds a fantastical and fascinating corn maze that will and fascinating corn maze that will and fascinating corn maze that will keep your family entertained and

FallCorn MaZe, lotHianGreenstreet masterminds a fantastical and fascinating corn maze that will and fascinating corn maze that will and fascinating corn maze that will keep your family entertained and keep your family entertained and

Great Family ActivitiesContinued on the next page


enchanted—and perhaps a bit lost. Its must-see for maze fans opens on September 25 and seasonal events take place on weekends throughout the fall.

butler’S orCHard puMpkin feStival, gerMantoWnPumpkins are the perfect way to celebrate the fall season, and Butler’s Orchard is putting on its 30th annual pumpkin festival to celebrate the great gourd. For $9 per person (children under two are free) you can find and pick the perfect pumpkin, take a hayride,

wander through hay mazes and enjoy great crafts, food and family-oriented activities. If you’ve got a Disney Princess fan in your house, Butler’s is the place to be: The orchard has its own Cinderella Pumpkin Coach!

Zoobooo at tHe Maryland Zoo, baltiMoreIf your ghosts, goblins and goddesses are itching to howl at the moon this Halloween, take them to ZooBooo so they can howl with wolves. This year’s ZooBooo runs from Friday, October 29,


Continued on page 25

Enjoy fabulous fall festivals in Davidsonville, Lothian,

Germantown, Baltimore, Jessup, Frederick, Annapolis,

Bowie, Glen Burnie and Crownsville — to name just

a few of the many places you can find autumn fun.

Nesting4 1 0 . 9 2 3 . 2 3 1 0 • f e a t h e r p u b l i s h i n g @ g m a i l . c o m

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to Sunday, October 31. Trick-or-Treaters are encouraged to come in costume.

green MeadoWS petting farM, JeSSup and frederiCkGreen Meadows is a place where children can milk a cow, cheer at a pig race, pick a pumpkin, take a tractor ride and watch an interactive animal show. They’ll also have a chance to pet rabbits, cows, chickens, goats and many other animals. Admission is $12 (children under age two are free).

petSMart HoWl-o-Ween, loCationS inClude annapoliS, boWie and glen burnieEvery Halloween, PetSmart holds a pet costume contest and parade in each of its stores. This year’s Howl-O-Ween will occur on Saturday, October 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. The costume contest offers goody bags and a fi rst, second and third place prize (usually gift cards to PetSmart). You can also have a Howl-O-Ween portrait taken of or with your pet.

Maryland renaiSSanCe feStival, CroWnSvilleVisitors (many in costume) come from points near and far to attend this fanciful festival, which takes place in a mock Medieval village that comes alive every weekend from August 28 through October 24, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. With plenty of costumes, turkey legs, jesters, and action-packed shows, the Renaissance Festival is fun for all ages. Prices vary by age: $8 for children ages 7 - 15, $18 for ages 16 - 61 and $15 for people 62 and over. Kids under seven are free. N

Brooke Balderson is a teacher and freelance writer from Annapolis.

portrait taken of or with your pet.

Maryland renaiSSanCe feStival, CroWnSvilleVisitors (many in costume) come from

nestingmagazine.com

Continued from page 22

ATTENTIONAre you looking for a family-friendly way to earn money? Help expand our growing publication, and work according to your own schedule, by

becoming an advertising sales account executive.

INTERESTED?Send a brief cover letter and resumé to

Kim O’Brien via: P.O. Box 613, Crownsville, MD 21302 or [email protected]

Groups & Clubs Annapolis AP Moms GroupFor moms who practice attachmentparenting (i.e. co-sleeping, breastfeeding, etc.)Email: [email protected]

Annapolis Hip MamaMeetup GroupWebsite: hipmamameetup.com

Anne Arundel Moms GroupPhone: 410.551.2345

Chesapeake Moms ClubFrom the Bay Bridge to CentrevilleWebsite: chesapeakemomsclub.org

Columbia Area Mothers of MultiplesServing moms in Howard and Carroll counties and the surrounding Baltimore metro area Location: Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia Website: camom.net

DC MetroMommies (AnneArundel County Chapter)Phone: 410.867.6854,Email: [email protected]

Isabel’s Gift NICU Support GroupLocation: Anne Arundel Medical Center Contact: Kari Barcome, NICU social worker, 443.481.6114

MIS (Miscarriage, Infant Deathand Stillbirth) Support Group St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church,Edgewater Contact: Ann O’Sullivan,R.N., 443.481.6114

MOMS Club of AnnapolisWebsite: momsclubannapolis.20m.comEmail: [email protected]

Nesting Support


MOMS Club of Pasadena, NWPhone: 410.863.1125Website: momsclubpasadenanw.com

MOMS Club of Severna ParkSupport for mothers in Severna Park, Arnold and MillersvillePhone: 410.544.9778Website: spmomsclub.org

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)Phone: 410.798.1413Website: 4thelorg.org

Professional Moms at Home (PMAH)Serving full- and part-timestay-at-home moms throughoutAnne Arundel CountyWebsite: pmah.net

Subsequent PregnancySupport GroupLocation: St. Andrew’s United

Methodist Church, Edgewater Contact: Ann O’Sullivan,R.N., 443.481.6114

Parenting ResourcesAA County Birthing CircleMeets the last Tuesday of the month.BWMC Tate Center 1st fl oor conference room. Contact: Cheryl Gilman 410-353-6834Website: birthcircleaa.org

Annapolis and Glen BurnieFamily Support CenterFree educational programs, parenting and childbirth classes, and developmental assessments. Child care is offered for parents attending the programs.Phone: 410.269.4478



Better BedRest, Inc.Advocacy, public awareness and volunteer driven non-profi t providing support, resources and information to pregnant women who have been prescribed bedrest by their physicians or midwives Phone: 410.740.7662

Holistic Moms NetworkResource for holistic parents andindividuals interested in becoming onePhone: 877.HOLMOMS,Website: holisticmoms.org

International CesareanAwareness Network (ICAN)Non-profi t organization working toimprove maternal-child health bypreventing unnecessary cesareans,

providing support for cesarean recovery,and promoting Vaginal Birth AfterCesarean (VBAC) Phone: 800.686.ICANWebsite: icanbaltimore.org

La Leche LeagueServing Maryland, Delaware and the Washington D.C. metro areaWebsite: lllofmd-de-dc.org

Milk Share-Breast Milk DonationClearinghouse for parents to learn about milk donation and connect with other families Website: newlifemidwifery.com

Tot’s Line for Anne Arundel CountyFree information, advice andreferrals for parents and caregiversPhone: 877.817.TOTS N


Nesting Support

The Stay-at-Home Survival GuideField-tested strategies for staying smart, sane, and connected while caring for your kids

“The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide speaks volumes without being preachy, overtly tongue-in-cheek or feeding the ‘Mommy Wars’… There’s support throughout the book that is relative to all aspects of motherhood, whether you are a SAHM (stay-at-home mom), WAHM (work-at-home mom), or a mother re-entering the workforce.” — Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

“Becoming a stay-at-home mother shifts your entire world, and Melissa Stanton gets it. This intelligent, sensible, hands-on guide will help at-home moms navigate the rocky waters of time, money, self-image, self-esteem, sex, friendship, and everything else.” — Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby

“Thanks to this book [stay-at-home moms] have somewhere to turn whenever [they’re] feeling a little lonely, under-appreciated, or overwhelmed.” — MomCentral.com

Don’t Stay Home Without It! stayathomesurvivalguide.com

Featured by the Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun, ABC News, TheMotherhood.com and other media.

Available at bookstores and amazon.com.

By Melissa StantonSeal Press/Perseus Books

“Perfect for ... any mom who has felt she has the best job in the world, and the worst job in the world, all within a two-minute timeframe.”— MamaSpeaks.com

“A terrifi c resource [with] plenty of practical advice.”— Washington Parent


Check it out!Organizing Yourself—and Your Kids—

for the New School Year

Working together, declutter your child’s room and drawers, leaving only the essentials: on-season clothes he’ll wear, toys and games he uses, memorabilia and collections he really cares about, and decorations that enhance rather than distract.

Have a complete set of age-appropriate supplies available at your child’s desk or in a designated bin. Store extra report folders and project supplies nearby. Request a list from the teacher, if necessary.

Select an easily accessible area for your child’s backpack and jacket to call home. Create consistency with a regular reminder that your child deliver these items to his or her “drop zone” when coming home and when preparing for the next day.

Make lunches, select outfi ts, and deliver backpacks to the launching pad the night before. Develop a consistent time to do homework.

Allow for extracurricular activities and recreation, and schedule any TV or gaming time. Be consistent and communicate expectations.

Fall is coming. Avoid scrambling on that fi rst chilly morning by replacing seasonal items now. Swap out the

pool towel and swim goggles for a jacket and rain gear before the weather gets cold.

Create a go-to “Action File Box” for your child’s papers. Label folders by their purpose (e.g. School Action, Sports Action) and include each

child’s name. Have a plan for their school artwork, too.

Mark all school dates on a calendar and add each child’s activities—and even your school volunteer activities—in different colors. When the calendar fi lls up, be ready to say “No” when someone asks if you could help with [fi ll in the blank]. Practice saying, “My plate is full right now.” N

Terry Cooch is a professional organizer and owner of TLC Home.

for the New School Year

Working together, declutter your

SIMPLIFY

Have a complete set

CREATE A HOMEWORK STATION

Make lunches, select outfi ts, and

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

Fall is coming. Avoid scrambling on

PREPARE FOR THE COLD

Create a go-to “Action File

BE READY FOR PAPER

Mark all school dates on a calendar CREATE A MASTER SCHEDULE

Select an easily accessible area for

DESIGNATE A LAUNCHING PAD

Organizing Yourself—and Your Kids—

SIMPLIFY

enhance rather than distract.

Have a complete set Have a complete set

CREATE A HOMEWORK STATION

zone” when coming home and when preparing for the next day.

ESTABLISH A ROUTINE

if necessary.

DESIGNATE A LAUNCHING PAD

PREPARE FOR THE COLD

child’s name. Have a plan

CREATE A MASTER SCHEDULE

Create a go-to “Action File

BE READY FOR PAPER

Documents

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