Interview With Claudine Wolk Author of It Gets Easier! . . . And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers

Today I am thrilled to bring you my interview with Claudine Wolk author of It Gets Easier! . . . And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers. My own experience with motherhood was quite interesting. Tristen was such a laid back baby, we actually had to wake him up to eat during the night. He gave me the (completely unrealistic) idea that all infants were that easy. Then came Ashley who spent her first year scream all the time. She was quite a wake up call. I am so drawn to the title of this book because, well, does it ever get easier? Be sure to check out It Gets Easier! . . . And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers. I think y'all will enjoy it.

Thanks so much Claudine for taking the time to visit with me! I really appreciate it and am sure my readers do as well.

Nessa: What inspired you to write this book?

CW: Motherhood changed everything for me. I was clueless after the birth of my son, going literally from the office to home with a fussy infant! As soon as I found tips from other moms, that actually worked, that weren’t in any other books, I decided that I had to put it all down in a book for the moms who came after me. It was almost a mandate - honesty, for the love of Pete, honesty! So, the book really started after the birth of my first son. My other two children were practically guinea pigs used to apply the information I had learned with my first son to make sure the success of the tips was not a fluke, and oh, yeah, we wanted more kids!

Nessa: How long have you been writing?

CW: I guess I’ve been writing for about 16 years, from the time that my son was born. I started to submit stuff much later (not unlike many other aspiring writers) about 5 years ago.

Nessa: What do you think is the biggest "lie" you were told as a new mother?

CW: I think the biggest lie I was told – actually it was more of an omission than a lie – was that a baby eats and falls asleep after he eats. Who knew that the little critters actually stay awake after they eat and sometimes even scream their little faces off? I was expecting the “Downy Baby” baby, who was peaceful and cherub-looking. I was also expecting to look just like the fully-makeuped and peaceful mom in that commercial. Reality was a bit different for me.

Nessa: What is the best piece of advice you ever received as a new mom?

CW: The best piece of advice I received as a new mom I actually read in Dr. Spock’s Baby and Childcare. Dr. Spock said that as moms we know more than we think we know. This one sentence gave me the freedom to trust my instincts and that it was OK to make decisions regarding my new family. That realization took a lot of pressure off and opened me up to try a lot of the advice I share in the book.

Nessa: What projects are you currently working on?

CW: Right now I am trying to find new ways reach new moms. I’ve come up with a new venue that I like to call “Cocktails & Conversation.” It’s a way for me to visit new moms and facilitate their sharing of stories and ideas that work for them. One mom hosts a “party” and I come, speak a bit, and get the mom-conversation rolling. It’s like “Bunco” but without the dice (or the money.) The cool thing about it is that all different moms come – new moms, pregnant moms, more experienced moms, and even women just thinking about getting pregnant. The best part is that once the ball gets rolling, the sharing is incredible. Everyone speaks and shares their concerns or the ideas that have worked for them. Moms learn that they are not alone. Everyone comes away with a smile. It exhilarating!

Claudine Wolk

www.Help4NewMoms.com

www.Help4Newmoms.blogspot.com

Big Changes for WIC Families

Image by Daquella manera via Flickr

You all know that I am a frugal mama. These days, everyone seems to be tightening their belts and trying to make the most budget friendly choices on everything from clothes to groceries. If you work at it, you can find a way to save on most things you spend money on.

WIC wants mothers to make the frugal decision to breastfeed their babies. By breastfeeding, you can save as much as $2000 yearly because of the price of formula. WIC has always encouraged breastfeeding, but it seems they are now really stepping up there efforts. They have created a new food package that provides nutritious foods for the breastfeeding mama, but does not provide baby formula. They are also now giving moms who do both breast and bottle or exclusively bottle feeding 13% less funding towards infant formula. With this change, families who at one time had all their formula provided by WIC may be having to buy additional cans of formula out of their own pocket. Formula costs an add up quite quickly, so this may come as a shock to many WIC families.

When talking about infant formulas it is important to remember that all formula has to meet the same stringent FDA guidelines. So, there is truly no nutritional difference between the value priced store brand and those popular brands put out by the big pharmaceutical companies. I did not know this and think it is information that all parents should be aware of. I know that some mothers simply cannot breastfeed for one reason or another, so this information can help them make an informed decision about choosing formula on a budget.

I am a huge fan of the WIC program. I do not know what I would have done without them when we had infants. I had so much trouble nursing and their lactation experts were so much help! I never did manage to nurse Tristen successfully and I think I might have been able to if I'd had their help like I did with Ashley. You can go to WIC with any questions or concerns about breastfeeding and get an informed answer. The program is a truly great resource for low income families.

So, what about you? did you do breast, bottle, or both. I'd love to here your thoughts on the subject.