Motherhood...Love You Forever!

For Valentine's Day ... I bought this book Love You Forever for each of my kids. Then I went back and found photos of them and put them in each of their books. On the next page I wrote each one a personal letter of how grateful I am to be their Mom.
It seemed a bit old school...scrapbooking like this yet, but I really just wanted each of them to know how special they are to me and how very much I love them!
Then I found this article below from a friend of mine on FB about Motherhood and I loved it! Hope you take time to scroll down and read it!
Good Night dear friends!

Naked Love

February 2, 2016 by SASHA

I read the article HERE:

She woke up crying. I ran in to find her nose spilling blood everywhere. The couch cushion, the carpet, her dress. Quickly sweeping her into my arms I ran to the bathroom where we waited for it to end.

Just the two of us, her stripped down to princess underwear, feet dipped in the sink as we quietly waited for the bleeding to stop. I took a warm washcloth to gently clean her naked body, the sound of only the faucet in our ears. She smiled at me.

And then another sound. Ringing so loudly in my ears I could not help but weep.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.” 

I heard it so loud. So clear. And in that moment I realized more than ever before the utter importance of just being mom.

Because every time I mopped another spill, broke up another fight, wiped a millionth tear… each trip to the doctor, the play ground, the grocery store. The cleaning and cooking and laundry and laundry and laundry… Silly dances and late night cuddles. Calming fears and comforting pains. Praise. Pride. Celebrations over putting on underwear the right way.

The tasks that often seem so trivial, the moments so mundane no one else would even care to know.

Each and every time. Each and every moment. It is just as though I was serving Him. The Savior Himself… That’s how He sees it anyways.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.” 

How often does this motherhood thing tend to grab our souls and make us question yet again if we are enough? If our life is worth enough. “Just a mom,” we so often respond. Like we are somehow less deserving.

But God, He sees us as doing something of unmatched importance. Our babies depend us for everything, from the food in their belly to the clothes on their backs. And although most days we may smell like grilled cheese and old milk, He only sees beauty.

Who cares if society tells you your contribution is not enough; your life a little less worthy of praise? Does society see you at 3AM, with the sick child who does not care about your successes or awards? How much money you have made or positions you have taken. The child who cries only for momma–whose touch alone will bring the comfort and peace she needs.

“I was naked, and you clothed me.”

I held my daughter for a long time after the bleeding stopped. Knowing that these are the moments that are shaping both our souls. And as I held her I knew He was right there with us. Holding us both in ways I never could.

He’s there each day, each moment. He sees. And He smiles at my everyday world. Because He knows that with each new load of laundry I am serving Him. And I am serving a much bigger purpose than I will ever truly see.

“Then the King will say… I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me water to drink. I was a stranger and you gave Me a room. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison and you came to see Me.’

“Then they will say, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? When did we see You thirsty and give You a drink? When did we see You a stranger and give You a room? When did we see You naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and we came to You?’ Then the King will say, ‘For sure, I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me.’

 ~Matthew 25

Tips for raising little people!

I read this article and really liked the points they talked about. Motherhood is hard, very hard and the best job at the same time. But always good to be reminded of tips on how to raise these little Amazing people in our lives.
Good Night dear friends!

I read the article HERE:

10 WAYS TO RAISE A CONFIDENT BABY/TODDLER

1. Slow down your life long enough to play with them.

This shows them that they are important and what they are doing is important. I’ll be honest, sometimes their games can get boring, especially when they get really repetitive but remember to them it’s a BIG deal.  Dinner can always be delayed 20 minutes, unplug and just sit on the floor next to them or play chase through the house, they’ll be big before you know it.

2. Encourage independent exploration and learning. 

Give them time to play on their own, without entertaining them, so they can explore, imagine and figure it out by themselves. Do this a little bit everyday.  We also love to set up sensory bins and then let them free play however they like with it.

3.Baby Proof the right way.

Proof your house enough that you don’t have to say no to everything he/she tries to grab (and so they are safe!) but not too much that they never have to learn boundaries.  This is such a balance, you will learn as you go and make changes and adjustments as you realize what is and isn’t working. Our house is baby proofed as follows:

-Anything that is dangerous is proofed!

-Things I would be upset if she touched I have moved out of her reach. This way I don’t have to say “no” constantly.

-Her toys are all within her reach. She knows where they are and can get them out whenever she is in the mood.

-There are 2 kitchen cabinets that are baby proofed shut and the rest are free for her to open they are full of baby safe stuff like pots and pans, tupperwear and more.

-Books have been left within her reach but she knows they are a special privilege and are to be handled with care. I have spent hours and hours with her next to the book shelf, helping teach her how to be gentle with the books. She has a separate shelf in a different room with her baby books and these she’s rougher with. She is not even 1 and she has started to learn the difference.

4. Make things reachable for them on their own.

For example, our keyboard has been moved from up on a stand to now sitting directly on the floor. This way she can reach it and play it anytime she’s in the mood to create music.

5. Allow them to do “big kid” tasks with you.

That way instead of them being around your feet, getting in the way and running down your patience they are involved with what you are doing.

When I cook, baby cooks. I’ll usually set her up in her high chair so she’s at counter height and fill her tray with cooking materials. It’s different every time. Sometimes she gets tupperware and plastic measuring cups, other days she gets a scoop of coconut oil for her to play with, squish and eat.

When I unload the dishwasher, baby unloads it too. She can reach the silverware. I clear away all the knives and sharp utensils before she makes her way in and then while I unload the rest of the dishes she unloads the silverware tray. Yes, she is simply unloading it and dropping it on the floor but I smile and tell her thanks for helping. Her hands are busy, which keeps me happy, and she has confidence in herself learning a new task! As she grows older we’ll start to slowly show her a place to put the silverware, keeping it at her height in a cabinet instead of in the typical drawer, which she wouldn’t be able to reach.

6. Show them how to complete tasks on their own.

Instead of getting the toy box out for them, show them how to open the cabinet and grab the box out themselves. But be warned, there are some tasks I wish I wouldn’t have taught her how to do and I did so on accident. After watching me once, she’s an expert on turning the DVD player and opening the disc drive. But again this has been an opportunity to teach her boundary. Rather than move it out of her reach we have taught her gently that it’s not hers to play with and that she needs to “find something else” to play with. Simply saying the words “find something else” doesn’t cut it, I had to take the time, guide her away and show her other toys at the same time, it took a few tries but then she got it.

7. Teach them to be confident communicators.

This point, along with many of the others, is one that you should continue to train them in for the rest of their childhood. For babies teaching them to communicated is obviously going to look very different than with your older kids, baby sign is a great place to start. I’ll admit we aren’t great at it, I don’t have the time to learn a million and one signs myself but honestly you don’t need a million signs. Small things like waving your hands after a meal to signal “all done” are big lessons in and of themselves.

Don’t get overwhelmed with baby sign, you don’t even have to get a book, a super simple thing like waving good-bye is a great lesson, too!

8. Limit how often you say “no.”

Little ones will respond more positively if you reroute and show them what they can do instead. There are times when no is necessary but more often than not redirecting them towards a positive choice works much better while keeping their confidence intact.

9. Notice their accomplishments! 

Praise! Praise! Praise that little baby. Notice those small things they are doing, they things they are figuring out. Watch their little brains work and when they solve something or learn a new skill, notice and get excited with them!

10. Instill a strong feeling of trust.

It’s important that they know they are safe and know that you are always there for them. It’s never, ever too early to learn this. From day 1 your snuggles are already teaching them this lesson. I’ve also made it point to never sneak out and leave, I always kiss her good-bye, give her hugs, tell her I’ll be back and then wave bye-bye. Remember babies are people too and how you train them now is what they will come to expect as they grow as well.

And allow them to have personal space. Just because they are little doesn’t mean they have to have strangers touch forced on them. If your child doesn’t want to be hugged or picked up by a new person, respect that. Give them time to warm up to new people.

Motherhood

I love this...
Motherhood is the best and the toughest thing I ever did!

The Last Time

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,
you will never be the same.
You might long for the person you were before,
When you have freedom and time,
And nothing in particular to worry about.

the last time poem
Image found on Pinterest
You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,
And days will run into days that are exactly the same,
Full of feedings and burping,
Nappy changes and crying,
Whining and fighting,
Naps or a lack of naps,
It might seem like a never-ending cycle.

But don’t forget …
There is a last time for everything.
There will come a time when you will feed
your baby for the very last time.
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.

One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,
And never pick them up that way again.
You will scrub their hair in the bath one night
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone.
They will hold your hand to cross the road,
Then never reach for it again.
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this.

One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus”
and do all the actions,
Then never sing them that song again.
They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,
The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.
You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.
They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time
Until there are no more times.
And even then, it will take you a while to realize.

So while you are living in these times,
remember there are only so many of them
and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.
For one last time.

-Author Unknown-

Fun, fun, fun!

I have really enjoyed this article and wish I could have read it when I was a young Mom. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Good night dear friends!

After some serious self-reflection, I realized that we've been creating these fun-fed children. As they leave our car, we smile, wave and shout, "Have fun!" After they return home from somewhere (school, practice, play date, church), the question is usually "Did you have fun?" and if they didn't, there is often a decent amount of concern about what might be wrong and how we can remedy this un-fun problem.

Not only that, but we live in a culture full of cheap thrills and expensive entertainment that everyone feels like he or she must be a part of. You don't take an annual trip to Disneyland? Your poor kids! You aren't going to spend the day at a trampoline park? Bummer! Your kids don't have iPhones or iTouches yet? So sad! You aren't going away for the three-day weekend? What will you do at home?

Fun is a drug. Take a little and you want more. Take enough and it no longer satisfies. You need bigger, better, more expensive activities to fill you up. The simple moments are no longer satisfactory, and the big events don't seem all that big anymore. Fun is a junk food diet that leaves you giddy for a moment, then hollow and wanting more.

Kids learn it from somewhere: media, friends and, yes, parents too. Our culture worships leisure, entertainment and fun. As parents, we have forgotten how to have a good time with our kids without paying someone to fabricate it for us. We have forgotten that the most fulfilling and closest relationships are not the ones based on constant fun together but ones where we have worked, laughed, loved and struggled together. I don't want a cotton candy relationship with my kids. I want something substantial and real.

As I read biographies and listen to interviews about successful people who have changed the world, there seems to be a common thread in what they learned as a children and adolescents: hard work. It doesn't matter which country they come from, their socioeconomic status, their gender, their beauty or lack of it. They succeed by working hard at something, for something or to merely survive, and these lessons almost always started at home.

So this year we are turning over a new leaf in our home. We are still huge advocates of enjoying life, seeing the positive and taking it all in. We want to travel with our kids and show them the wonders of nature and different cultures. We love to play sports, take walks, visit the theater, attend concerts, hike, play games, swim, watch movies and just be together.

But this year we will work hard together too. We will create memories and strengthen relationships as we accomplish difficult things together. We will hold our boys accountable for their efforts in our family, in school, in sports, in music, in hobbies and in their church duties. We will no longer ask our kids if they had fun because, frankly, we don't care. They can choose to make every experience fun if they want to. It's up to them and absolutely possible. But we will no longer worry about creating fun for them or shielding them from hardships, unpleasantness or, heaven forbid, boredom. We want them to reap more than fun from this existence. We want them to be fulfilled. We want them to reach their potential. We want them to be excellent.

We will change our focus and ask one of these questions:

• "Did you learn something?"
• "Did you feel productive?"
• "Did you work hard?"
• "Did you try your best?"
• "Were you a good friend?"
• "Did you try something new?"
• "Did you push yourself?"
• "Did you make someone's day better?"
• "Did you add value?"
• "Did you create something?"
• "Did you grow?"
• "Did you discover something?"
• "Did you change the world today, even in a small way?"

When you can answer yes to any of those questions, that's when life gets really fun.

read it HERE:

What I wanted to be when I grew up!

My whole life I have always wanted to be a Mom when I grew up! That was really what I wanted more than anything. Now I realize that many other women have or had, that same dream but never got to fulfill it yet. So when I talk about Motherhood, I am not trying to be insensitive to any of those women, my heart aches for them and I pray for them!
Still I do believe the old saying " It takes a Village to raise a child " and since we have had 4 kids, I am eternally grateful for all those women out there...who have played such a big part in our kids lives!
When a friend sent me the questions and answers (below) from 2nd Graders about Mothers... I knew I had to share it. I love to hear the funny and inspiring things kids say. Oh how I wish I would have written down more of what my kids said, but I was so busy trying to raise them that I didn't write down a lot of them. And I am sorry to say that I don't remember a lot of them now!
 Yesterday while sewing with Jenny in my Studio ( ok, don't laugh ...but Sewing Studio does sound better and bigger than a Sewing Room doesn't it? ) anyway... I was frustrated trying to figure out something from the pattern I was working on. When I said out loud " I don't know what they mean? I need to figure this out, we need to be ready to go in just another hour! " I was really just talking out loud, but Jenny answered "Don't ask me Nana, I don't even know how to read yet! " Priceless!

 
Then my grandson Kai said this to his Mother the other day... " Mom, I'm going to play you a good song. It's about church, dinosaurs, and Jesus Christ" She said "Play away buddy, I've got to hear this song!"

So I truly feel like the only way to survive and enjoy Motherhood, is to really notice the small and simple things that are going on in your lives as a family. Humor has really saved us on more than one occasion! Take for example, we had most of the kids home a few of years ago and wanted to take a family photo. Lauren was still in Idaho at school, but since she is a photographer...we thought she could just photo shop herself in the picture....look at the results!

Serious, she did it but she totally looked more dressed up and together than all of us...that was the last time we ever tried that again! :)

Anyway, read these fun answers from these kids...it was too funny to read and it does touch your heart when you hear some of the things they say. 

Good day dear friends!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Read it HERE:

Who is the best Mom?

A friend of mine just had her 2nd baby, when asking her how she felt with this one compared to having her first...she just smiled and said "everything was much easier". 
I found that out for myself when Amy (our oldest) was born. She really was an easy baby and yet I must have called the NURSE ON CALL a million times! At least once or twice a day. Questions that were like this ... "Amy's arm turns blue and purple looking sometimes when I am nursing her, what does that mean?", Amy hasn't burped the last 2 feedings, what do I do? and on and on went the panicked questions to this seasoned nurse and Mom.
She was never rude or complained about how many times I called. She was my life saver! I probably called her as many times as I called my Mom...that is serious! Even her kids knew my voice on the phone when I called and would say " Mom, it's Lynn again! "
The first day that Jeff had to go back to work after Amy was born, I remember sobbing after he left, and then praying hard that some how I would know how to take care of this little newborn baby that was completely dependent on me! I didn't have any of those Natural Instincts everyone talks about, at least not yet!
By the time I had Brad ( Our second oldest ), I had become a little calmer and seemed to know a few more things about how to handle babies and be a Mom. Still each child  brought their own type of challanges, yet...slowly I was gaining more Wisdom and for that I was grateful.
Then somewhere in between the beginning of Motherhood and up till having kids in School there comes this competitive/ comparison thing that seems to happen. You start to judge yourself critically at times, by what you see other Mothers doing or accomplishing! Then the real pressure starts. It is real and yet it should be funny because no two babies are alike, no two Moms are alike and especially no two family situations are alike...so why do we compare ourselves to everything and everyone?

 Finally, as you get older as a Mom, you realize what really matters is what you are doing and can do. But sometimes this takes a while to figure it out.


Amy and I went to a Womens Conference last month, there was this Mom there ( Lisa Valentine Clark ) that is an author and actor. Anyway, this is the first video I had seen of hers, she was and is halarious and she hits the nail on the head when it comes to Competion between Moms. You have to watch it, she is too funny and I think most Moms will relate to it. Anyway if you haven't laughed for today...then watch this!
watch her HERE:
She has a lot more videos to watch HERE:
Hope you enjoy it!
Good Night dear friends!

A True Friend!

What a great article and tribute to a TRUE FRIEND!!!
I found the article in a blog HERE:
Take a few minutes to read it...it is soooo worth it!
Good night dear friends (who many of you, have been this type of friend to me! Thanks! )

Last week I had my good friend and her boys over for a play date. What I love about getting together with her is that there’s freedom to be real. I didn’t race around my house minutes before she came to make it look presentable. I didn’t attempt to create the allusion that I had time to do my hair. Instead, this is how it went down.

I greeted her with sopping wet hair. I was wearing yoga pants and carrying my twin girls in their bath towels who had decided to jump in the shower with me minutes earlier. The breakfast dishes were barely cleaned up and the toys were already covering the floor for the day.

And the best part? She didn’t care. Because she gets it. She gets that sleep was probably interrupted the night before and that I chose to rest a few extra minutes instead of waking up early to dry and curl my hair. She gets that showering alone sometimes isn’t an option and that I had to drag the kids along just so I could wash myself. She gets that dishes are never ending and there’s no such thing as all the toys being put away. She gets it all. 

She understands that more than anything, what I need during this season isn’t the stress of preparing for a get together, but that I need to know I’m not alone. So she continually meets me where I’m at.

We chat about the good, the bad, and the unknown, while our kids run wild and destroy the house. We pretend not to notice it. Because honestly? We’re willing to sacrifice just about anything, including a controlled environment, for a couple hours of adult conversation.

When one kid dumps an entire bag of cereal on the table and the next one throws it all over the floor, we laugh and enjoy the chaos. Then, she grabs the broom while holding my baby and starts sweeping it up.

She meets me in my mess. Time and time again.

My hope for all of us is that we’d pursue friendships in our messes. That we wouldn’t wait to reach out until we have it all together. When you welcome someone over to your dirty house, I guarantee it’ll make that friend feel even more loved to know you trust her with your real life stuff.

The truth is, none of us live in a perfect house with a white picket fence. There’s always more to the story, and there’s nothing better than to let someone in to YOUR story. That’s where life gets rich, it’s where we learn that we were placed on this earth to bring light into each other’s darkness.

You are loved today, friend. Even in your messiest darkest hour, you are worthy of love.

XOXO,

Amber

Still on Texas time!

Not sure why traveling does such a number on me but ...it always does. Then you add on the 2 hour time difference and ...you have one tired Nana!
Saying goodbye to this little guy was hard, and I just wanted to sneak him in my suitcase, so I won't have to miss watching him grow!
I decided to do a couple of things for him before I left, in hopes that when he sees them...he will remember how much his Nana loves him.

First is I made him an afghan (it started out for the baby but I got carried away on the size ), he might still need it, since when I left it was freezing there. I laughed and teased my son at the airport when I said " I guess I am going to have to go back home to Seattle to get some warm weather and sunshine!"  And that is exactly what I got, it has been beautiful since I got home!

Then I gave him his Birthday present early ( he turns 3 at the end of this month ).


It's a Picnic Quilt, with 2 matching plates, cups and napkins. I was hoping to use it with him outside while I was there... but it was way too cold! We had fun playing on it upstairs, and he got really excited when he realized that the Outer Space fabric was GLOW IN THE DARK fabric!
I have tried to make one of these Picnic Quilts for all the grandchildren when they turn 3 or 4. Just when they are really starting to enjoy Picnics.

We are home now and I have spent most of my time trying to unpack, put things away, do laundry and get ready for work this week. Still tired, so I guess it will take a bit of adjusting to get back to my regular routine. Of course then on Saturday Night we need to change our clocks to Daylight Savings Time! :)

I realized when I was at the airport waiting for my flight, that sometimes I get Homesick. I remember feeling that way off and on throughout my life. Not Home Sick for my actual home, but Homesick for something bigger, deeper. I have wondered what it would be like to go back Home with God, for just a few minutes? I would love to sit and ask Him how I am doing, and ask him to remind me again ...how strong I am.

 This aching in my heart has always been filled when I do two things...read my scriptures and pray more fervently. I took time out at the airport to do that and it worked. I knew I was loved and being watched over. Then when I stopped worrying about being so lonely, I looked around for a new friend, someone to help. When I did that, I also immediately felt better. 

I found a sweet young Mom with 2 little kids who seemed to need a friend. I tried to talk to her little girl and then I sat with them on our last flight. The Mother and I got to talk, then I shared with her that I had a couple of strong willed kids and also told her that some day ...they would grow up, and she would survive ( something I think she was doubting by her 2nd flight ). I proudly showed her a picture of my 4 kids ( all grown up ) and told her that I lived through it and so would she. I shared with her how quickly they grow up. She seemed like a wonderful Mother, I have know doubts she will be fine. 

Fun to make a new friend, forget about my feeling so lonely... and excited that I got to come home and see my Best Friend! Yes, life is hard at times, but still I have much to be Very Grateful for!

Good Night dear friends!

It's a scary time of the year!

I was interested in this article, since this year I am trying very hard to stay healthy...especially during the flu season! Since we are talking about scary things... this close to Halloween, thought this is something everyone should read. I think my kids had all 3 of these medical problems, more than once in their life!
Motherhood is tough, but some times just knowing that your kid is not the only one going through it...can be a huge relief on your heart. The one that scared me the worst ( with each child ) was the Night Terrors. There is just something about being woken in the middle of the night to your child screaming, that is scarier than any Halloween costume!
So get ready for this season Moms!
Good Night dear friends!

Story sponsored by

3 'scary' medical problems for kids

• .

By Melinda Rogers

For University of Utah Health Care BrandView

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 22 2014 2:00 p.m. MDT

   

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Summary

Protect your children from common ailments so that they can enjoy the holiday this year.

.

It's that time of year when creating the perfect look as a ghost or goblin means your child might win an award for best costume at a Halloween carnival.

Dressing up to appear scary is one thing but when a health condition causes red, itchy skin or watery eyes with a fever that creeps on unexpectedly, the problems can make mom and dad's heart jump more than any ghoul hiding in the shadows.

University of Utah Health Care's Nathan Bexfield, M.D., gives a rundown of some common ailments that can give parents a scare and offers tips for helping little trick-or-treaters get on the mend in time to enjoy one of the most fun holidays of the year.

Fifth Disease

One minute your child's skin is normal and the next thing you know, what appears to be a series of red welts have erupted. For a second, you wonder if your child has been slapped in the face.

But if other mild symptoms appear, such as a low grade fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat, itching and nausea, there's a chance your child could have Fifth Disease.

Fifth Disease is a viral illness that causes a condition called an exanthem, which is another name for a rash or skin eruption. Fifth disease is also known as "slapped cheek" disease because the rash can cause a child's cheeks to become quite red.

Fifth disease is spread from one child to another through direct contact with fluid from the nose and throat. It can also be spread through contact with infected blood. It is moderately contagious.

It's caused by the human parvovirus B19 and if your child picks it up during the winter months, he or she isn't alone. The disease is most common in the winter and spring among school-aged children.

Symptoms usually show up four to 14 days after being exposed to the disease. About 80 percent of children have very mild symptoms for about a week before getting the rash.

About 20 percent will have no symptoms at all before the rash appears. The rash generally starts on a child's cheeks but spreads to the trunk, arms and legs. It lasts about four days.

Physicians usually treat symptoms of Fifth Disease, but because it's a viral infection, there isn't a cure.

"We often recommend drinking fluids, taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen and using an antihistamine for itching," said Bexfield.

"It's also helpful to practice basic hygiene practices, like hand-washing with soap, and for little kids, remembering to cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing."

He noted that pregnant women should try to avoid exposure to children diagnosed with Fifth Disease if possible.

"If a pregnant woman has been exposed to parvovirus, she should tell her obstetrician," he said.

Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

What is Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease?

It's an illness caused by a virus that results in a distinctive rash. It causes small, blister-like bumps in the mouth, and a rash on the palms of the hands and feet.

The rash may also appear in the diaper area and on the legs and arms. The lesions in the mouth usually appear at the back of the throat.

Like Fifth Disease, Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease is caused by a virus. It's common in children, particularly children younger than age 10. It is seen most often in the summer and fall.

The virus is usually spread through fecal-oral contact, although other modes of transmission have been reported.

"Unfortunately Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease is highly contagious. It's not uncommon to see outbreaks occur in daycares or in other places where young children are in close contact," said Bexfield.

Symptoms include blister-like bumps in the mouth (usually near the throat and tonsils), the feet, and the diaper area, and rash on the arms and legs. Young children may also display a fever, lack an appetite and generally behave out-of-sorts.

Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease is usually diagnosed through a visit to a health care provider. The rash and mouth blisters of hand-foot-and-mouth disease are unique, and usually allow for a diagnosis simply on physical exam. A swab of the throat or stool could be sent to the laboratory for testing, but results often take two weeks or more.

There is no specific treatment for Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease, although increasing fluid intake, allowing for rest and using approved pain relievers can help with symptoms. In some cases, physicians may recommend an anesthetic mouth rinse to help with pain in a child's mouth.

Night Terrors

It seems like your child is in a blissful state, fast asleep after a long day. But just when you're finally finding some time to relax on your own, you're jolted by screams from your child's bedroom to find him screaming, kicking and thrashing all while he's still apparently asleep.

The culprit may be a night terror, which is a partial waking from sleep where a child is frightened, but cannot be awakened. The child's eyes are open, but a parent often can't get him or her to pay attention.

After anywhere for a couple minutes to a half-hour, the child usually falls back to sleep and often doesn't remember a thing in the morning (while you might still be worried about what happened).

Night terrors, however, are common, says Bexfield. He recommends parents do the following to help a child through a night terror:

•Try to help your child return to normal sleep. Do not try to awaken your child. Make soothing comments. Hold your child if it seems to help him or her feel better. Shaking or shouting at your child may cause the child to become more upset.

•Protect your child against injury. During a night terror, a child can fall down a stairway, run into a wall, or break a window. Try to gently direct your child back to bed.

•Prepare babysitters for these episodes. Explain to people who care for your child what a night terror is and what to do if one happens.

•Try to prevent night terrors. A night terror can be triggered if your child becomes overly-tired. Be sure your child goes to bed at a regular time, and early enough to give him or her enough sleep. Younger children may need to return to a daily nap.

He also suggests making an appointment with a pediatrician if night terrors continue to interrupt a child's sleep on a regular basis, or if a child does something dangerous during an episode.

"While unsettling, night terrors are generally not harmful," said Bexfield. "But if they seem to be occurring on a frequent basis, it never hurts to get in touch with a doctor to talk more about the problem.

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PS Remember that Motherhood is tough...but you are tougher!