MomCat Reviews: Healthy Child Healthy World

If you're read my blog recently, you'll know that I'm in a transition mode in my life that has me rethinking a lot of things. And, one of the topics I've been reading about more and more these days is adapting to a "greener" lifestyle--one that is better for the planet and better for your health. But, when you are very uneducated about just what is bad in the products you use, it is hard to even know where to start. Thankfully, the folks at MotherTalk had a book review that ended up being the answer to all of my questions.

Healthy Child Healthy World is a surprisingly quick read that will really open your eyes to just what is being sold out there to consumers and the potential it has to cause serious health problems and damage to our environment. But, with that said, it doesn't resort to scare tactics to get the message across-instead it peppers in facts along with testimonials from environmental experts and celebrities. I found that I could not put the book down, and ended up reading it in only a few sittings.

Now, I have to admit, in the past, I was one of those people who would argue back at the green fanatics out there--"my mother used Clorox and I was just fine. If this stuff is so bad for us, then why am I still standing here?" Truthfully speaking, I felt like these people were overreacting a bit.

The reality of the matter is that our children are living in a different world today than we did--plain and simple. In one day of my children waking up, getting ready, going to school, and coming back home, they have already encountered more chemical additives, preservatives, pesticides, and other things in our air, water, and food than I ever did when I was growing up. And scientist are only now able to start seeing some long-term affects of this exposure. Yes, advances in science have been our blessing in may ways, but they are also our curse as this book proves. And, after reading this book, I know now that my old argument just doesn't hold water anymore.

My son has allergy-induced asthma that has thankfully improved as he's gotten older. But, I have to admit that as I read this book I really wished I had it back when he was two and three and we were struggling to know what was going on with him and how to prevent his respiratory attacks. And, I am considering having both he and I completely allergy tested, just so we know what causes his attacks.

Healthy Child Healthy World acts as a complete and easy-to-understand map to novice readers for how to "go green," but what makes it stand out is that it does not overwhelm you with too much information. Instead, the book offers up examples and solutions for the cost-conscious reader who wants to make changes. The book even encourages readers to start slow, swapping out household cleaners and changing small things like shampoos, before diving into completely going all organic/chemical free. There are great home remedies for everything from making your own bubble bath, to homemade cleaners, to furniture polish made with olive oil.

Another thing I like is that the book hits on just about every area that you can imagine--from the obvious subjects--such as safer foods to eat and organic gardening and lawn care tips--to pet care and kid-safe toys. Some of the helpful "Copy and Carry" sections of the book, I will be referring to again and again, including:

• Recipes for Cleaners
• An Under-Sink Makeover
• The Dirty Dozen/Cleanest 12 Shop Guide to Pesticide Free Produce
• Plastics by the Numbers

I truly cannot say enough about this book. It is a quick read that keeps your attention. And, it will open your eyes and make you think differently about how you live. Of all the books and products I have reviewed over the past few years, I have to say Healthy Child Healthy World has the potential to have the biggest impact on my life. I have already started making small changes and will map out a plan for more large scale changes in our home. My son is eight and is very into recycling and saving the earth already and the book has many tips on how to teach your kids to get involved at home. This is a book I will loan to my friends, or perhaps buy as gifts for friends and family.

Now, instead of arguing that the old way of doing things never hurt me, I have changed my thinking to--what can it hurt to try to live more safely and be less dependent on chemicals in our lives? I owe this shift to reading Healthy Child Healthy World.

For the most current information and more on this book, check out the Healthy Child Healthy World website or see what other reviewers had to say at MotherTalk.

This book was sponsored by MotherTalk . I received a copy of the book and an Amazon gift card for agreeing to review the book.

MomCat Reviews: Your Child's Strengths

It was a mind-altering experience that I mentioned before on this blog, and that forced me to open my eyes to a clear fact--our school system was failing my son. And, worse than that was the understanding that I was failing my son as well.

After writing an article on area private schools a few months ago, I realized that my son wasn't a problem or unmotivated in his own public school classes. He was just being himself...in a world where only one type of learning is enforced and accepted.

As I watched the private school students who were his age, I felt a wave of familiarity come over me. I saw 2nd grade boys squirming in their seats--shoelaces untied, hair ruffled, and shirts half-tucked. And, I saw a teacher who clearly knew how to get these active boys attention and engage them as they were all participating in the conversation in their own way--some raising hands, others jumping up with the answer and still others quietly mumbling their thoughts.

In the end, I realized that what appealed to me most was the teacher's recognition of different learning styles, and her willingness to customize what she taught so that it spoke to many different types of kids who all learned in different ways. Now, while my husband and I still believe public school is best for our kids, I take comfort in knowing now that there are learning establishments that recognize that not everyone learns in the same way. I also know that, as a parent, I may need to recognize my children's learning styles and translate their school lessons into a format that they can understand, if they are to continue to thrive in public schools as they currently operate.


When I was approached by the Parent Bloggers Network to review Jenifer Fox's book, Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them, I felt another wave of comfort overcome me. Here was an answer to the problem that I had a hard time admitting--that I had been just as guilty of trying to fit my son's rounded peg learning style into that squared hole public learning format. It was something that had left me utterly frustrated and feeling incapable of teaching him, and I can only imagine how he must have felt as well.

I have to admit, upon first perusal, this book intimidated me a bit. It's very clinical looking and not a short read. But, as I got into the first section, I already found myself fascinated by the discussions of learning disabilities and whether or not it is our children or our school systems that are actually disabled.

I buy into this "strengths movement" as well. I think that as I've gotten older, I have been able to draw some connections between previous jobs with which I found great joy and success and future ones that, while may seem as different as can be from the first jobs, had common responsibilities and duties that played to my own strengths.

And, I have seen my own parents display an ability to recognize and appreciate strengths as they watch my children in action, that I may not always have and I don't think they may have had as young parents either.

Just this past weekend, after a family egg hunt with my two children, my 5-year-old niece, and my cousins toddler daughter, my mother pulled me aside. She shared with me that she'd noticed that my son was actually purposely not picking up eggs and also slipping more into his sister and the toddler's basket when they weren't looking. She beamed and said, "He's really an amazing kid, you know."

As hard as it is to admit, it dawned on me that at the time she was noticing this special quality in my son, I had noticed his egg basket was less full and felt a second of annoyance--wondering if he'd gotten distracted, wasn't interested, felt unmotivated to find the eggs. My mind had automatically gone to that twinge of frustration I feel when he doesn't get ready each morning, or finish his homework without my prodding him a million times, instead of instantly recognizing what a beautiful and considerate soul he has.

That, in a nutshell, is why Your Child's Strengths was tailor-made for me at this point in my life, and can speak to many parents out there. Sometimes when you're in the thick of parenting, especially with your first born, you tend to overreact, worry, and obsess when you see that your children are not fitting the mold society places upon them. What I've learned from the Strengths Awakening portion of this book is that recognizing these talents and strengths in our own personalities and our children's and gearing our home lives to support those strengths, gives our kids a great gift of self-awareness and confidence as they're growing up. A gift that I wish I'd had as an insecure teenager...and adult for that matter.

One book exercise has you list chores you enjoy doing and ones you hate, and then you detail why you feel that way for each. The author suggests that parents gear family chores around this. I like this idea and plan to go through it with my kids. However, my one issue with some of the strengths focus is this--life doesn't always play to our strengths. As an adult, I have to take out the trash and clean the dishes--two chores that I completely hate. I can't just chose to only do the things that play to my talents or that I enjoy, because the dirty work must get done too. But, I see that, by being aware of their talents and interests, it can help me guide my kids into choosing activities and jobs that interest and suit them, which in turn will build their self esteem.

Now, I'm diving into the workbook portion of Your Child's Strengths. The book says that the exercises should take you about six months (!!!) to work through. This is a big disconcerting and overwhelming to a reader, I have to say, but I'm going to do some for myself and see where I get and then look at having my son work through some of the exercises with me. I look forward to seeing what we both discover on this journey of strength awareness and how it will change my parenting approach.

I have to mention one small nit-pick though. As an editor and a writer by profession, I have come across a typo or two in books I've read over the years. Most often, they are the sort where you realize the spell-checker missed it for a reason. This book, however, has several really glaring misspellings that I know would have been caught by a simple spell check. This dings the credibility of a book to me, and I have to imagine it would with other readers, so it is unfortunate.

All and all though, Your Child's Strengths, is a book that will be on my bookshelf for awhile as I refer back to the exercises and sections as my children grow older. And, it is one that I hope will help me alter my parenting style to one that is rooted in positivity and loving my children for the strengths that God gave them, instead of noticing their areas of weakness. And, perhaps, I will learn to do the same as I look in the mirror and measure my own life as well.

MomCat Reviews: I DARE You to Read This Book!

In the past, I have quickly jumped on my soapbox and written about how normal little rough-and-tumble boys seem to be no longer socially acceptable in today's world. So, when I got the chance to read and review The Dangerous Book for Boys earlier this year, I was elated! Here was a book, that embraced all the little things that boys are most often made of--including secret codes, go-carts, fishing, and fossils.

Well, I’m back again. And, this time, I have the girls in mind. Because while I joined in the praise of the Dangerous book, I, like many a female reviewer, was left with the nagging question —hey, what about the girls???

I was raised by a mother who believed in girl power, long before the silly Spice Girls came to fruition. Girls can do anything that boys can do. Period. That's what I was taught and still believe today. So, it seems only fair that we have our own book of adventure too. Well, thanks to authors Andrea J. Buchanan (of MotherTalk fame) and Miriam Peskowitz (The Truth behind the Mommy Wars), girl power lives on. And, also thankfully, The Daring Book for Girls, is more than just a copy-cat of the boys' version.

I was surprised by the content, actually. Because not only is the Daring Book filled with things that interest all kids, like my 8-year-old son’s favorite section on “How to Make a Scooter,” but it opens the reader's eyes to a ton of great traditions and activities from around the world. And, that is probably my favorite part of the book—it's multicultural tone. Now, I can learn how to tie a sari, how to play Chinese jump rope (which is entirely different from jumping rope in American culture), and what I might discover on a safari to Africa.

The book does tackle the more girly of topics, such as: Putting Your Hair up with a Pencil, making Daisy Chains and Ivy Crowns, and learning about real-life Princesses Today. But, there are plenty of things in there for the sporty gals too, such as Climbing, How to Be a Spy, and Fourteen Games of Tag. (And, be sure to check out the website for a special little nugget important for any growing young prankster--How to Short Sheet a Bed!)

What I love about both of these adventure books is that they give parents a tool to engage with their children in something that perhaps they used to do as a kid, or maybe even something new that they missed out on in childhood. It's a guide to doing things with your kids and having fun, beyond the normal playtime or everyday crafts and games.

Both books can grow with the children as well. I gave The Dangerous Book for Boys to my 13-year-old nephew for his birthday, because I knew he’d love reading all the chapters on historical war battles and learning how to engineer things like a bow and arrow. But, I’m now giving The Daring Book for Girls to my 10-year-old niece for Christmas too. I know she’ll love chapters on creating your own "Secret Garden," palm reading, and hand-clapping games (who can forget "Miss Susie Steamboat" from elementary school days! HELL-O operator?) Meanwhile, at night I can read chapters from both books to my son and have them attractively displayed on our bookshelves for my 3-year-old daughter when she’s old enough for adventures.

If this doesn't given you enough of a glimpse into why I love The Daring Book for Girls, check out this short video and the Parent Bloggers Network for more great reviews. And, don’t think because the title has the word “girl” in it, that you are too old OR the wrong sex to join in the fun. I say, it is high time we get a little more daring, my friends!

MomCat Reviews: Printakid Personalized Books

When the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to do a review of personalized books for children, I jumped on it. After all, my son's birthday was only weeks away.

But, the main reason I was excited by this was because I actually had one of these books as a child...and I still have it to this day. It sits on my 8-year-old's bookshelf and he loves to read through it almost as much as I did as a kid.

I was impressed with the Printakid's website, which includes good examples of the books so that you can really get an idea of the product you are ordering. I also liked how easy it was to order my son's book. A simple question-and-answer online form and my book order was complete. I was very curious to see how they would merge all of the basic facts, such as hair and eye color, friends names, and so forth.

When my book came, it was just a week or so before my son's party. I anxiously opened the book and found a brightly colored hard-back book in my chosen story, "The Robots of Sedna." While the illustrations are not going to win an awards, the look was still fun and very visually appealing to the eye.

The story was not anything to write home about, but neither was my personalized book as a kid. I was impressed with the quality of the book, nonetheless.

And, as I had predicted, my son was thrilled with the book. He laughed aloud when I read through as the various robot characters were named after his favorite school friends. The silly but simple story still entertained him completely and he said he could not wait to show his friends that they were in a book!

I marvelled at the advances in technology in putting together a book like this over the past 20 years or more. My childhood personalized book also had the simple illustrations. It was a paper back. The text had been typed into blank portions of illustrations, such as clouds and background mountains, so the look was very rudimentary.

This book resembled any book you'd pick up in the library or buy at a bookstore and yet it was fully customized to my son!

While the price is a little steep on these books, I will be ordering another for my daughter's next birthday. I am sure her face will light up just as much as my son's when she stars in her own story. For parents, grandparents, and family looking to give something special to the children in their lives, I highly recommended checking out Printakid for a personalized story.

MomCat Reviews: Flirting in Cars

When MotherTalk contacted me with the offer to review Flirting in Cars, Alisa Kwitney's new book that is being publicized as a "romantic" and "sexy" novel, I thought I'd take a chance on it. The description of the book didn't exactly grab me. But, I've found myself at the bottom of a book rut that began with too many depressing and deep Oprah book club selections and ended with an embarrassing number of self-help books on everything from diet to discipline to diabetes. With all those D's it's no wonder I was a DEpressed book reader! Kwitney's novel looked to be a refreshing change of pace for me. And, I'm happy to say that it was indeed.

As I started reading, I realized something right off the bat--I might not be able to relate to Kwitney's main character--40-something Zoe, at all. In part, because my life would read as the polar opposite of Zoe's path--a single mom and journalist from Manhattan who can't drive a car or cook and only moves to the country to help her daughter in school. How would a small-town Texas girl who now lives in the burbs of a big city now with her two kids and husband, relate to eclectic Zoe who craves the crowded streets of New York and completely fears wide open spaces?

Surprisingly, what I found is that I could relate quite well! Perhaps it is Kwitney's ability to make you understand her heroine's inner struggles that helps with that. Like Zoe, I have also had my preconceived notions of rural life vs. city life blown to pieces when I found myself living in an entirely different surrounding from the life I had always known. I have pushed myself out of what is comfortable and known to change my life as well, and have felt the panic and emotional discomfort that can bring at first too.

But, in the end, I became quite fond of Kwitney's urban writer mom who loved her dyslexic daughter enough to move to her perceived end of the earth to help her.

I did note some inconsistencies with the main character though that nagged at me as I started to get into the book. Kwitney begins by showing how self-sufficient and strong Zoe is in her life as a journalist and a single-mother. It did not make sense to me that her heroine would then move to an entirely new place and NOT learn to drive or figure out a solution for transportation ahead of time? This just did not mesh with her the way she'd described her character to that point. I became a tad frustrated with her situation early on and her sudden passivity once she moved to more rural surroundings, waiting on others to come and get her so that she could even get groceries for she and her daughter.

However, the author's fun arsenal of quirky characters that Zoe meets along the way helped to distract me away and keep the story moving along. Not to mention, their odd mix of personalities and backgrounds made for some fun moments, including one Thanksgiving dinner that would top any dysfunctional family meal to which I have ever had the displeasure of attending!

At times I wished I knew more about each of these characters and what was motivating them...especially Mack, the handsome vet who gives Zoe driving lessons and manages to blow all her preconceived notions of small town guys. But, perhaps in not spelling everything out for her readers, Kwitney was adding to that air of mystery surrounding the rugged driving instructor with a surprising tender side who is fighting his own inner demons.

I have to be honest. Flirting in Cars is not a book that will change your life. But, it is a light-hearted and fun read that will make you smile and the perfect book to take to the beach, on a plane or just have on your shelf when you need a breath of fresh air. Kwitney's writing style is pleasant and she manages to keep a reader's interest with her characters by putting them all out of their comfort zones throughout the story. In the end, I found myself unable to put her book down, rooting for Zoe to finally figure it all out and stop judging the life she finds herself in and start living it. I won't tell you what happens, but I can tell you that you'll surely enjoy finding out!

This book was sponsored by MotherTalk . I received a copy of the book and an Amazon gift card for agreeing to review the book.

MomCat Reviews: The 24-Hour Pharmacist

I'm not one to buy into alternative medicine. For one, I know that the supplement/health industry is not regulated by a national agency, and that makes me nervous. But, quite frankly, when you are already having to take betwen 9 and 11 pills per day (including your normal multivitamin), well you just avoid putting anything else in a pill form in your mouth.

I hate taking pills for my Type II diabetes and my thyroid condition. I have hired a trainer and killed myself for many months only to discover that even when my body fat goes down, my weight on the scales does not! (Leave it to me to be some sort of freak of nature!)

So, when I picked up the book I was sent to review, The 24-Hour Pharmacist, I was highly skeptical. Was this just going to be lists of all the many drugs I could take, but definitely would not thanks to my already medicated self?

Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. When I looked at the sizable book, the 300 plus pages overwhelmed me. And, then I opened the cover and read a few of chapter titles: Overcoming Fatigue; Straight from the Heart; Frazzled, Frustrated and Freaked Out; A Nation of Insomniacs; and Monthly Madness. And, then I couldn't put the book down.

You could not pick a book that describes more of my health concerns and issues. And, what is more, as I began to read I found the author's tone and wording so easy to take in--even when I was reading about complex things such as food additives and sleep apnea medications.

What I like most, is that the book is organized in such a way that it makes it very easy to pick it up and read whatever section interests you and then put it down. No need to read it cover to cover. It truly is a great reference too to have at your fingertips.

Among the things that I learned, was one very important one regarding my diabetic medications and how I need to start taking C0Q10. For a long time, I have read various diabetic message board where people are discussing taking Coenzyme Q10, but I never knew why it was important. Now, I know that the drugs I take for elevated cholesterol (an unfortunate side-effect of diabetes), can actually HARM my heart by depleting it of valuable nutrients. With heart disease rampant in my family, this not something I can afford to do at all.

Of all the book reviews I have done this past year, I can safely say this is the book that I would buy for my family, my closest friends, and really just about anyone. And, I probably will be doing that this year, actually. And, this book is also one that will stay out in my bedroom and I will revisit many times as I learn the inside track to better health.