Hips Don't Lie: The Art of Belly Dancing & Birth

The history of belly dancing is an interesting one. My husband and I were watching a television program where diners ate at a restaurant with belly dancers. To their horror and disbelief, one of the women was dancing pregnant. As the diners were criticizing and talking amongst each other, my husband also commented to me in shock, until I explained that belly dancing was meant for this exact purpose.

Originating in the Middle East, belly dancing was practiced primarily in a woman's private quarters as a birth dance to help relieve and ease contractions. The pelvic-centered dance which is highly sexualized in modern-day, was actually used as a way to strengthen abdominal muscles, and as a bonding experience for women and girls. Belly dancing lessons began following a girl's first menstruation, to prepare her for future natural birthing experiences. During labor, belly dance movements help distract mothers from contraction pain, and would aid in directing the baby down the birth canal. While many people in today's day-and-age are unfamiliar with its origin, belly dancing is not only a natural form of art, but delivers life.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com


Photo taken courtesy of https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Shakira_Rio_02.jpg

You Better Say Something To Your Kids Before I Do

I've written and talked about this before, but was exceptionally annoyed last night while treating my daughter to some ice cream and fun at a local restaurant with play area. We occasionally frequent this site during the day which is comprised of stay-at-home moms and grandparents, a crowd drastically different than the one we experienced after 5pm. And while I understand that working parents find these restaurants convenient after work to quickly feed and keep kids entertained, that does not absolve you from supervising your children. Being too busy texting and Facebooking is not an acceptable excuse. Allowing your child to misbehave at the expense of others is not parenting. We are all tired. The last thing I want to do as a parent, is scold someone else's child and subsequently get into an argument because of it.

With that, I would like to say to the exhausted looking father of four, allowing his children (roughly ages 4-8) to kick and punch younger kids in the play area, put your phone down for two seconds and be a parent. Every adult in the restaurant is biting their tongue not to confront you or your children because it is not our place. But if being glued to your phone makes you too busy to notice, then someone should explain right and wrong to your kids. And I get that children usually work out issues amongst each other, but being outnumbered and standing up to four siblings makes it a bit difficult.

As we continued watching the foursome prevent our kids from sliding, Mr. Too Busy On His Phone had not looked up once despite two sets of parents commenting aloud about the behavior and his children hitting. The real problem is why should we have to punish our kids by leaving because one parent will not be a parent, and we are trying to avoid confrontation? Yes. I am that parent: the nosy observer.  It's called parenting, and I need to pay special attention, especially as my daughter goes through the "Mine" stage because she needs to share and give other kids the opportunity to play.  As Mr. Too Busy continued on his phone, his four kids would not share or let other children pass to go up and down the play area. They also blocked others from exiting the slide. I watched without saying anything, and noticed that his four-year-old boy in particular was the biggest aggressor. To all the parents' horror, he spit from the top of the play area to the bottom, and as the spit trickled down the side of the play wall, some of the parents could not take it anymore and left.  Just when I'd had enough of him pushing and trying to trip my two-year-old who is too oblivious to realize the boy was not playing tag, he punched her with all of his tiny force in her chest as she was moving past him. I jumped up in disbelief to enter the play area and reprimand the boy, but before I was able to get the door open, my little girl in true linebacker form, tackled the living mess out of him! I had to pull them apart as they were going blow for blow, and she certainly made it clear that she would not tolerate him hitting. I guess kids do work things out on their own! There's only so much a person can take, even little people. After separating the two, I sat Layla down to finish her food and advised the father that he may want to get off his phone and watch his kids. I am not judging him. Actually, I am. Say something to your kids before others have to.


-Leslie Osmond




Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

The Importance of Baby Talk

Communication with babies is critical for their development. And while they start off babbling and what appears to be gibberish, engaging in their way of talk is an excellent step in building the foundation to their speaking abilities for the future.

When I go to the grocery store and hear parents chatting with their toddlers, I always find it amusing how distinctly they manage to understand what their child is communicating, even when the children are not speaking in full sentences. Translating baby talk is something parents work to understand, because knowing our kids' wants and needs makes life easier. Chatting also takes practice and repetition. And while we may not always know what to chat with them about, reading is a great supplement. The importance of interacting and talking with babies is crucial enough to be linked to intellectual gaps among children. I was astounded to learn while volunteering the other day, that many of the children that come from homes where communication is irregular, accounts for nearly three million fewer words per year from birth to the age of three. And while genetic factors were taken into account during these studies and observations while in daycare, the bulk of the studies showed that environmental factors far outweigh genetic.

Everyone comes from a different walk of life, and therefore, demographic, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. can make it difficult to spend as much time with your child as perhaps a stay-at-home parent. But keep in mind, talking is free. And while some children may not be afforded all of the monetary things parents would like to buy if the means were available, communication is priceless, as is a child's development. There should never be a shortage of communication when it comes to taking the little bit of time you may have, to aid a baby's development. I implore all parents reading this blog to take the time to engage with your children. Their future depends on it.


-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com





Photo taken courtesy of http://www.lifeofdad.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/baby-on-the-phone-md.jpg

Forced Paternity Leave

Forcing men to take paternity leave makes the world a better place. After all, it takes two to tango, so it's only fair that both parents participate in what's traditionally a mother's duty, in an effort for fathers to experience and empathize with mothers, yet also build stronger bonds with children. Other countries do it. Why not the United States? Should we mandate paternity leave?

Some of you may be reading this and thinking, "On what planet is mandatory paternity leave going to happen?" Well, for several years, the country of Sweden requires fathers take 60 days leave following the birth of a child. Such efforts have encouraged equality at home and in the workplace, therefore paving the way for improvements in equal pay, work hours, benefits, housework and childcare. And while other countries like Belgium, France, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Spain provide similar benefits, many companies in the United States (not to the same degree as these countries) also offer paternity leave.

My husband was fortunate to have a few weeks paid leave following the birth of our daughter.  He welcomed the time as a family effort in taking away some of my load, so that I could rest following birth. The leave also encouraged quality time which he spent bonding with our daughter. Daddy time is something my husband enjoys very much, and it is something he misses nowadays when all she wants to do is cling to mommy, and daddy yearns for a little snuggle time, like during her infancy. In my opinion, baby bonding within the first few months makes for better, happier dads. They gain instinct that would otherwise be foreign, and cherished memories. I still reminisce over the times our munchkin was just a few weeks old, and she'd only shower with her dad. Remembering her clutching him ever so tightly with those tiny fists, makes my heart melt. Daddy was her favorite, and she'll always be his little baby. After all, during those crucial weeks, he learned how to change her diaper in a flash, learned some of her likes and dislikes, and only he had that special way to rock her to sleep. Paternity leave is a necessity. I think it can also strengthen marriages. I mean, if the added stress of feeding, bathing, clothing, and providing for a child is there, what greater satisfaction and appreciation for one another, than allowing the other party a glimpse into having equal roles? If not for the parents, it is wonderful for the child. Perhaps this is something more companies in the US should consider, for the sake of productivity and a greater work-life balance.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

Take A Parental Time-Out

How do you stop yourself from laughing hysterically at your daughter, after you've just scolded her for being too loud, and she pouts her way back into her room with a balloon in tow, all while riding on the back of a toy dog that is blinking like a disco ball and singing the ABC's?!! You had to see it to truly grasp the scope of hilariousness. It was sheer comedy and took every ounce of my husband and I not to let her see us cracking up. Moments like these make me think of how as parents, we can get frustrated over the littlest thing after a long day, and our children's goofy moments place things back into perspective. Rather than blowing up, and pausing for a moment to take a parental time-out is a great way to calm before a storm.


Kids always want more of our attention. Our tolerance of their noise level, whining, crying, etc. is skewed in various situations. For instance, when we have guests, if we merely want a few minute of tv time or quiet, or we are at our wits end, parents are likelier to to get frustrated in the heat of the moment. I am sure all parents have had that moment where you are enjoying some much needed adult conversation, so you allow your child a little more freedom for the sake of get out of my face! Yes, you can have another piece of candy. Sure, watch another episode of your cartoon so I can finish viewing Dr. Oz. I am on the phone, if you continue to interrupt, we will not go outside and play. As these negotiations or bribes do not work in our favor, we end up raising our voices, getting frustrated -- the works. Parent-child relationships can be the most rewarding, and the most challenging. When love and anger meet head-on, it is important to be wise and control our emotions, even in moments of weakness. I am thankful for the reminders that make me laugh, such as my daughter leaving my room upset on the back a singing disco dog. Life is too short to lose patience, stress and lash out in anger. "Laugh a little louder. Smile a little bigger. Love a little deeper. And walk through life a little slower, enjoying more." -Unknown


-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com




Photo taken courtesy of http://www.yoddler.com/?page=/Quote&q=600#page=/Quote&q=600

Valentine's Day Fun With Kids

I love Valentine's Day, even when spent at home. As my husband and I get older, low-key is our preference during holiday season, and having a few drinks at home for a fraction of the cost, beats spending hundreds on cocktails during a busy day of the year where restaurants charge a premium. Vegging out with a Netflix, box of pizza, and bottle of wine has been our go-to solution for holidays. With children, it is nice staying in because you avoid the extra expense of a sitter, there's no guilt if you choose to stay out longer than anticipated, and no fear that your sitter will call unexpectedly. Additionally, the amount of money spent for a night on the town (dinner for two, cocktails and whatever else) will practically break the bank! This year we have planned some family fun given our munchkin in tow.

Valentine's Day is Sunday, and we decided to make an entire day of it.  I like no hassle, quick and easy, so for breakfast, I bought cinnamon rolls to pop in the oven and some sprinkles for our daughter to decorate them. After breakfast, our plan is to take her bowling for the first time. I made sure the bowling alley has kids bowl so she can aim the ball perfectly using special bumpers. She is quite the competitor. For dinner, our grocery store has an amazing Valentine's Day surf and turf dinner special: $20 for two lobster tails and two strip steaks. Our after dinner drink to get our party started involves this awesome Tipsy Bartender recipe. I love experimenting with new drinks, and what a perfect day to do it. 

And lastly, for the moms that want to go out for Valentine's, put a fire under those husband's butts! You deserve a night out on the town without the kids. Don't let them use the excuse that they're exhausted from working all day. Remind them that you're exhausted as well, from cleaning the house, taking care of the kids, doing laundry and making dinner. You want a nice night out. You deserve it. Happy Valentine's Day!

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com

Shrunken Baby Heads

Bearing a child is a gift that fills parents with an indescribable love. The idea of something bad happening to our little beings, is a thought no parent wants to fathom. As I watch and read the news regarding the fear striking millions worldwide because of the mysterious and incurable Zika Virus causing birth defects resulting in shrunken heads aka microcephaly, and therefore the brain not fully developing, I too am stricken with fear. My fear results from living in this melting pot, where travelers worldwide enter the United States, we enter their countries, and all of us are completely unaware of the potential that we are spreading this virus. We may be hosting this virus, given it has been in existence since 1947. What is more, studies have not concluded whether or not this virus affects toddlers.  Adults that are infected only evidence mild cold symptoms. But what do we know of the long-term effects?  Nothing.

The Zika Virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito. Primarily affecting Brazil and Latin American countries, this virus thrives in warmer climates and has made its way to Atlanta and Texas.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has urged women that are pregnant or trying to get pregnant to be wary of traveling abroad for fear of infecting their offspring. And while I have seen many posts of friends, acquaintances, etc. going on babymoons and excursions to the areas with travel alerts, I fear for them. At the same token, should we live in fear? We cannot have our entire existence be dictated on a potential scare, because how do we prevent the spread of this disease, particularly with Brazil being the most affected nation, yet hosting the 2016 Olympics? Given all of the travelers that will enter this country and return, how do we know whether or not fans will return carrying Zika?

My dilemma as a parent of a toddler and sister to an Olympic hopeful is whether or not to attend the Games in Brazil. Experts are still learning the effects on children, but given the virus has been around since 1947, how can parents be sure they are shielding their children from this evolving virus? Surely travel alerts that include 22 countries including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Barbados is an insignificant method in deterring the spread. Given the number of Americans that will exit and re-enter the country this year, can we really be certain the virus is not among us? Do we live in fear of the unknown? Or do we accept the fact that we may very well have been exposed long ago, given that only one out of five affected people experience basic flu-like symptoms? I fear for the pregnant moms who were not alerted about this virus before their trips. But I also fear for my child and the unknown. I urge parents to be on high alert and follow this story to educate yourselves regarding the effects on your children, that are to be determined.


-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com.




Photo courtesy http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article7226775.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/MAIN--Microcephaly.jpg

Mom Friends: A Generation of Flakes

In high school and college, it's typical to be friends with just about anyone. You call them to hang out, study, chat, etc. Nowadays, good friendships are hard to find, especially a quality mom friend. A girlfriend and I were reflecting on people we have or haven't kept in touch with over the years. We realize that our generation is full of flaky people. We ourselves are flaky. Let me explain. We've all promised a colleague that we'd get together, but never do. We all have had a longtime friend come to town, so we generically reach out to set up a lunch date that never happens. Or we message each other promising to visit or vacation, but life happens. And while we desire more face-to-face interaction with friends of our past, we understand that the the era of texting and emailing without response, is the bane of our generation's existence.  Everyone is busy, and with little ones in tow, it makes finding quality mom friends even more difficult because you're seeking out all new friends, particularly when your longtime girlfriends aren't moms, which is my case.

Despite being acquainted with a vast number of people, I have primarily kept in touch with two to three girlfriends and never had a large circle.  As I have gotten older, we change and spend less time in contact with past friends, especially between college, career, marriage and baby. Times change and friends change, so we make room for the next chapters. Social media makes it virtually impossible to lack communication. But once we graduate high school, we lose touch. And while social media forums are a great way to keep in contact and track what everyone's doing, it can also break relationships. Expressed conflicting political views, basic disagreements, as well as jealousy surrounding friends' transitions in life can lead to rifts. And while some relationships can pick up right where you leave off regardless of years apart,  I can admit that I am not the best at keeping in touch, especially as I've gotten older.

So why is making mom friends so difficult? Having moved with my husband's career and newborn out of state, we have a lifestyle that should incorporate friends at the same stage in life as us. My husband and I've talked and laughed about our dilemma, because it appears not many parents seem interested in making friends -- at least with us! And while I've had this same discussion with other moms in the same boat, these same moms never hang out with us. So what gives? I have put myself out there in making connections and invitations for dinner and get-togethers; we seem to click at mommy meet-ups or initial gatherings whether they are work related or not; our kids love each other and don't want to part ways, but we never see each other again. And while we exchange emails, phone numbers -- the works -- promise to get together, and despite me initiating contact, we never meet again. Apparently I am a glutton for punishment because I haven't given up the effort. We've invited some of my husband's colleagues to a basketball game, and will keep our fingers crossed that everyone hits it off. In the meantime, I am searching for a life-long mommy-friend. Matter-of-fact, wanna come over for a play date?!


-Leslie Osmond

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Sleep Regression

Last night, our two year old screamed like hell for about an hour and half refusing to go to bed. After finally giving in to the cries, we allowed her thirty minutes longer to stay awake. Me with a killer migraine, and her with puffy tear-stricken eyes and a hoarse voice, there was finally some relief. She fell asleep. Today we're back at it, and friends and family have advised me of this period known as sleep regression. 

Children experience sleep regression at various stages. This anti-sleep campaign spans from birth to approximately age three, in spurts of 1-4 weeks. After last night's hiatus, I feel like a complete zombie, am short-tempered, and an epic nap time saga begins again. A determined two-year-old kicking the wall in defiance after insisting on a countless number of stuffed animals in her crib, I finally had enough and threatened to give all her toys away! That did the trick, and now she's sound asleep.

I previously (at about eighteen months old) spoke with our pediatrician who says this is normal during growth stages, and at age two, some children -- not all -- will no longer take naps. The pediatrician who is a mother of three, says she speaks first-hand because one of her boys did not take naps after age two. I replied with, "Over my dead body!" I need my hour or so to unwind and have a few minutes to myself. After speaking to other moms that have been in my shoes along with reading various articles, I found a solution that has worked for us at the 18-month mark, and I am implementing again. To deter sleep regression here are four tips:

1. Devote one or more hours of outdoor time to you and your child, so you're both getting some much needed fresh air and activity. This will put you both in snooze-mode and/or give parents enough energy to get other tasks done once back in the home.
2. If you're unable to go outdoors due to weather (or you're not in the mood), participate in at-home 15-30 minute yoga and/or stretching. There are countless online videos as well as fun games you can play that involve exercise, to keep the child's attention and wear him or her out. This is also a great way to bond and encourage health and wellness.
3. Extra feedings. As most adults know, eating large amount of food can trigger the desire or need to take a nap. Extra feedings before a scheduled nap time is a great way for your child to settle down and want to relax.
4. Earlier bedtimes in the evening help with a an overly tired child, and helps alleviate parent exhaustion. It's okay to let a restless child cry for a bit until they fall asleep at night, especially since they are exhausted.  

Implementing a schedule to aid in the prevention of sleep regression can start off overwhelming, but this is just one of many stages that children go through. Rest assure, a modified schedule and sleep training with the above four tips, will help. Thanks for reading. 

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com and like us on Facebook.

Photo taken courtesy of https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7G3zWZR2oqQ_lCvx5Z9ldIgcbiKj74aA5Rf4M0kcEY4sk6VfMSS5clofqCIXFoii3g5AJ6L39rhSxPCpx5T-z067l4QJBY6UqOgY-ZDrVtqzg-22S-4lXRPx_cIooQgLYOOzSKGLCwA/s1600/funnybabye210b76d14ac1abba484689b058fce90a8c4695.jpg

Dumb Things Parents Do While At Home

Parents, have you ever done something so stupid when it's only you and your child at home, that after you started (or finished), thought to yourself, "This could've ended badly...like on an episode of Rescue 911?!"

Being a parent involves nonstop household responsibilities like laundry, washing dishes, vacuuming, chasing around little ones, and the occasional outdoor stuff. I perform outdoor duties as an occasional courtesy to my husband who is working all day, as a supplement to workouts, and so my daughter gets some fresh air and is pooped for a nap. These tasks are also as a way for me to say, I can do it too! Today's blog comes by way of starting then stopping today's outdoor task, because I would have been a complete idiot to try this at home, alone with my toddler.  Let me explain.

After procrastinating for a few months about getting our loose chimney cap re-attached following a series of wind storms, last night it officially blew off following heavy winds. This morning, I found the cap sitting in the middle of our swimming pool. As I began to go outside and strategically decide how I was going to retrieve it without damaging our pool cover, I realized I had no clue how much a chimney cap weighs. Considering it's 17 x 41 and made of stainless steel, atop a frigid swimming pool, how dumb am I to retrieve this on my own, given the possibility of falling into the water with no one but a two-year old as my source of help? And while the chances of this happening are slim, it's a possibility. Think about the countless episodes of rescue shows we've seen where stranger things have happened and you hear about kids dialing 911 or parents being lucky (or not so lucky), because of an unfortunate decision. Needless to say, I called my husband to tell him what I initially planned, and to his disbelief at my ignorance, agreed that I wait until his arrival. This task reminded me of a couple of other instances, like the time I began climbing up a ladder onto our roof to vacuum leaves out of the gutters. Layla was sound asleep inside, and as I got about halfway through the task I thought, "Damn! If I fell from the roof, no one would be able to call for rescue until my husband got home." There was also the time I ran full speed after the mail truck with an oversized box I could barely see over, in an effort to ensure it was sent that day. I nearly broke my ankle stepping off the curb, only for the mailman not to see me and continue driving. I'm too cheap to call an ambulance, so I actually considered driving (my car is a stick shift) with a severely injured ankle and baby on board. I reconsidered that too.

Sometimes parents are a hot mess! Do you have a dummy moment?  Please share with us on Facebook or visit our site ozzybaby.com.

-Leslie Osmond



Photo taken from http://img.wennermedia.com/480-width/1386961576_victoria-beckham-zoom.jpg

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I pride myself in teaching our daughter to be polite by saying excuse me when appropriate and please and thank you. What I was unprepared for was the little old lady blocking the grocery aisle, and to my disbelief and horror, having my two year old say in the most matter-of-fact fashion "Excuse YOU lady!" I just about died of embarrassment, and apologized profusely. #kidsSaytheDarndestthings

Please share if you've had a similar story.

-Leslie Osmond

Please visit our website ozzybaby.com and like our Facebook page.