Creating a Morning Routine: New Mom 101
Published October 2014: Mom.Me
Creating a Morning Routine: New Mom 101
Schedule those morning kisses and cuddles without rushing.
Article Excerpt:
As a new mom, it can be overwhelming to juggle feedings and diaper changes for your infant with household responsibilities and family life. Don’t let the stress of your new responsibilities override the joy of cuddling and caring for your new baby. Instead, jump-start each morning with a structured routine that benefits both of you.
Worries From Home
Published September 2014: The Messenger – Faith: A Fresh Take
Worries From Home
Being away from home is never easy as a single mom. Before I leave for a work trip, I have to coordinate care for my children, including rides to practices and social activities, while also arranging for someone to keep an eye on my home and my high-maintenance dog. Continue reading
Making a Life Instead of a Living
Published September 2014: The Messenger – Faith: A Fresh Take
Making a Life Instead of a Living
I’m not too proud to admit that I’m a workaholic. When I’m not grading student papers or compiling paperwork for the student newspaper on campus, I’m actively writing for publications. There is not one aspect of any of these jobs that I dislike and I feel very fortunate to have the job or jobs that I do have. Continue reading
How Baby Games Can Enhance Intellectual Growth
Published September 2014: Mom.Me
How Baby Games Can Enhance Intellectual Growth
Engaging your child through playing games develops brain power.
Article Excerpt:
From patty cake to peek-a-boo, the more interactive activities your child engages in with others, the more potential she has to expand her intellectual growth. From developing motor skills to enhancing brain power, games are a fun way to keep her mind sharp. Expose your little one to new information and discover how games not only keep her giggling, but also intellectually stimulated on a day-to-day basis.
Looking into the Future: Faith and Freedom
Published August 2014: The Messenger – Faith: A Fresh Take
Looking into the Future: Faith and Freedom
Each year, on the first day of school, I make my children line up outside so I can take their picture. As they get older, they groan and moan about this tradition, but after some prodding, they line up on the back deck in front of the large cherry apple tree and smile for a few seconds so I can capture the moment. Continue reading
Re-Launching the Idle Faith
Published August 2014: The Messenger – Faith: A Fresh Take
Re-Launching the Idle Faith
As summer winds to a close, I often jokingly say that I’m counting the days until school starts while mediating arguments and dealing with restless teenagers. As a teacher, I love the fact that I get to stay home with my kids during the summer. We stay busy with day trips, dance and football practices and jaunts to my sister’s pool, but at times, it seems that the kids are restless when a day of “there’s nothing on the calendar” arrives.
Parenting Lessons: The Teachable Moments
Published July 2014: The Messenger – Faith: A Fresh Take
Parenting Lessons: The Teachable Moments
As a teacher, I crave those teachable moments in life. From a tidbit online to help with my writing to an eye-opening experience in the classroom, I’ve committed to be a lifelong learner. What I never expected, though, is that parenting offers me the most opportunity for those ‘aha’ moments and I’ve learned more about love, life and faith as a parent than in any other role in life I have. Continue reading
How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Relationship
Published July 2014: Mom.Me
How Pregnancy Can Affect Your Relationship
A new baby may mean big changes for you and your partner
Article Excerpt:
Pregnancy is a time of growth and change — for both mom- and dad-to-be. Pregnancy also provides a period of adjustment for your relationship, as you and your partner prepare for the arrival of a new family member. This is “the real training for parenthood,” says Alicia Clark, Washington-based clinical psychologist. “And nowhere is this more evident than in your intimate relationship, where — perhaps for the first time — the needs of a child have to be balanced with your own.”
Tips for Keeping the House Clean With a New Baby
Published July 2014: Mom.Me
Tips for Keeping the House Clean With a New Baby
Spot cleaning can ensure a safe environment for your new baby.
Article Excerpt:
When you bring home your newborn from the hospital, the responsibilities of caring for him while keeping your house tidy can be overwhelming. From feedings and diaper changes to laundry and scrubbing, your to-do list may be overflowing. Finding a balance with your time to ensure your home is clean and safe for your infant is crucial for the health and well-being of your family.
Tips for Keeping Your Husband Calm During Labor and Delivery
Published July 2014: Mom.Me
Tips for Keeping Your Husband Calm During Labor & Delivery
The more he knows, the better labor and delivery will go.
Article Excerpt:
Pregnancy is a stressful time for a woman – and for an expecting father as well. Becoming a father is a time of great change for a man, with added strain pertaining to financial planning and the changing dynamic of the relationship between himself and his partner, says OB/GYN Kecia Gaither, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. The tenseness of labor and delivery can heighten these fears. But with a few creative strategies, you can help keep Dad calm and relaxed during labor and delivery.
About Me
Three words to describe me? Passionate. Motivated. Curious. These traits help me as a college media adviser and professor, freelance writer, author and mom. From student journalism and higher education to parenting and freelance writing, this site, focused on writing, reflecting and teaching, offers a mix of blogs with a hint of humor, sarcasm, and inspiration, as well as my published stories on just about every possible topic.
Feel free to browse my sample works including feature news, magazine, and web copywriting pieces from the past and present. You can also pick up my new book “Screen-Free Fun: 400 Activities for the Whole Family” now available. Check back often for daily updates, blog entries, and additional stories. Feel free to contact me directly at shphilpott@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter, or grab tips for Screen-Free Fun on our Facebook page. Comments are welcome!
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 