My brother sent me a link to this article, and when I read the headline: “How to Let Go of Hyperparenting and Learn to Relax With Your Kids,” I didn’t think I needed to read it because I am so clearly NOT a hyperparent.

I have never been one to fuss over my kids– even babies. Whereas some mothers carry around a thermos so their baby’s bottle will be warm, I’m thinking, “Hey, if I never give my baby a warm bottle then she will not expect it.” I also totally believe in the 10-second rule for crackers, lollipops, and, yes, even binkies. (gasp!) Okay, I think I might have sucked off any dirt from the binkies myself before handing it back to my baby, but I wasn’t racing all over the place trying to find a bathroom or drinking fountain to wash things off, and my kids have always been very healthy.

For most moms, now realizing that kids are pretty resilient, the second child is so much easier because they finally let themselves relax a little. I have always thought that I parented this way even with my first. I was raised in a family with seven (yes 7!) kids. I was second to oldest and my two youngest sisters are twins. My mother had her hands pretty full, and she relied on my older sister and I for help (although looking back, I’m not sure how much help I really was). I was pretty sure that I had plenty of parenting experience and decided to skip the how-to books and just let things come naturally.

So when I got that email from my brother this morning, I was reflexively going to archive it without reading, but I decided to just quickly skim through. Surprisingly I found the author’s suggestions useful (particularly numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 & 9), and, though I loathe to admit it, applicable to my own parenting.

They say it is good to laugh at your mistakes, and it looks like science may be backing up this proverbial advice. A study from the Mayo Clinic identified both short-term and long-term health benefits from a good laugh, and that’s no joke!

Of course having a good sense of humor can’t cure all ailments, but laughter can alleviate a variety of health woes, including day-to-day stress. Lucky for us moms, kids offer lots to laugh at.

Short-term Benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:

• Stimulate your organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
• Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension and stomachaches. Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term Effects

Laughter isn’t just a quick pick-me-up, though. It’s also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
• Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
• Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier.

Have you ever complained that your children are giving you gray hair? You might be right.

Melanin is the pigment that gives color to your hair (skin and eyes), produced by stem cells, called melanocytes, at the base of hair follicles. The change in hair color begins when these cells stop producing melanin in the hair root, and new hairs grow in with little or no pigment. Hair that has lost most of its melanin is gray, and hair that has lost all of this pigment is white.

The link between stress and gray hair has not been proven; however, physicians have observed accelerated graying among patients under stress. Scientists theorize that hormones released by stress cause an increase of free radicals — unstable molecules that harm cells. If these free radicals damage the melanocytes at your hair follicles, melanin production would stop, and your hair would lose its color.

I love peach season! Sure you can eat them, but peaches are also good for soothing inflamed and irritated skin and are a natural source of AHAs. This peach softening mask is great for all skin types. Since the ingredients are things you probably already have on hand, you can whip it up and indulge during nap time.

Ingredients:
Half of 1 Ripe Peach
2 TBS Natural Yogurt
½ tsp Baking Soda

1. Peel, pit and mash the peach.
2. Combine with other ingredients; mix well.
3. Apply to face and let dry.
4. Remove with warm water and a washcloth or shower off.

Today sadly marked the last day of my daughter’s preschool, and her class celebrated (although I didn’t feel like celebrating — I cherished those two hours) with a picnic at the park. It was mighty hot (105!), and we’ve spent the rest of the afternoon trying to cool off.

Wish I were her:

I can think of few things more indulgent than a body mask, but I can think of a whole lot of things that I should be saving or spending money on rather than a trip to the spa. Times may be rough, but you can still enjoy super-soft skin with this recipe for a homemade body mask.

Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that helps to soften skin and aid digestion. It is also a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids, which help exfoliate skin leaving you supple and smooth. read more

Sandal season is coming (finally!), but are your feet ready? Since everyone seems to be penny-pinching these days, here are our best tips for a spa pedi at home.

READY, SET, BUFF (2 minutes)
Remove what’s left of your old polish, and use a multi-sided buffer to even out ridges on the top of your nail. Start with the medium-grit side then switch to the smoothest, which will make your nails shine. Use the coarsest side of the file to remove callus on your toes and heels.

MOISTURIZE (1 minute)
Massage your feet using an ultra-rich foot cream that will replenish and soften. Even better, see if you can get someone else to rub your feet!

POLISH (3 minutes)
Swipe each nail with polish remover ensuring all oil has been removed so your color will adhere properly. Apply two coats of polish — a color that contrasts with your skin tone looks best. Bright, springy colors work well on anyone. Try Essie’s Spring Mini Pack that comes with four fabulously fun colors. Finish with a top coat that will speed drying and protect the finish.

DRY AND RELAX
Kick up your newly polished tootsies and relax while they dry… for as long as your kids will let you!

– Bettijo B. Hirschi

Most women have a tough time keeping stress at bay, but certainly now that you’re Mom, stress is a constant companion. Learning how to cope with these high stress levels is a key to being a happy mommy. Of course that is a whole lot easier said than done, and since we are right there in this battle with you, we turned to the health experts at the Mayo Clinic for some advice on stress busters that really work.

One of the most important first steps to reigning in tension is to make “me time” — and we mean it! Whether you go for a stroll in a local park or at the local mall, or just lock yourself in your bedroom, all Moms need to set aside at least two hours a week for themselves. Enlist Dad or other family members so you can take the time in one big chunk, but if that isn’t possible fit in 30-minute increments of me time where you can (i.e. naptime, after bedtime. read more