Author: theoctopusmama

By Ana Rubenstein

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”  Dr. Seuss quote

While everybody else has been so excited about Christmas, decorating their houses, shopping and wrapping gifts, baking cookies, building gingerbread houses and getting prepared somehow for this holiday season, I am still here asking myself what is so special about Christmas? I know there is religious significance, but still feeling left out, I started to ask myself why I cannot get excited about giving and receiving beautifully wrapped gifts, happy about decorating plastic pine trees, looking at colorful lights, singing carols and even moving that Elf on the Shelf around my house? Continue on reading

By Ana Rubenstein

When I was a little girl, my mother taught me about Guardian Angels. I learned that they were these invisible, kind creatures that would help me whenever I needed them. They must have done a very good job with me when I was growing up. I never had a major accident,  injury or any major personal losses when I was young (knock on wood). However, as I got older, at some point I stopped believing that they exist. Lately, though, I have been finding Guardian Angels everywhere, all the time. And before you think I am crazy, I need to tell you that they are not invisible and they don’t have wings. Guardian Angels are all those caring, kind, giving, ordinary, real people among us. They can show up as neighbors, teachers, doctors, nurses, family members or even as strangers. Continue on reading

Do you ever call your children Drama Queen or Trouble-Maker as a joke or maybe when you are really frustrated with them? What about calling them Disorganized, Messy, Shy, Hyper or Aggressive here and there? If so, I invite you to create a “label-free world” starting by declaring a battle against negatively labeling your children or somebody else’s. The reason behind this invitation is that our children might become who, we parents, teachers and caregivers, say they are or who they hear us saying that they are. But why not offer our kids opportunities to be different than what we perceive them to be? They might prove us very wrong. Continue on reading

Guest-writer: Vaine Angelo

What would you do if your small children called you to a family meeting every time they wanted to discuss something that they don’t agree with? Or something they are feeling frustrated about? Or maybe to defend their right to have ice cream before lunch? I personally have this happening often at home and, for years now, I have been encouraging my five and six-year-old to call family meetings whenever they think it is needed. I do it myself. Continue on reading

Guest-writer: Carolina Jones

My name is Carolina Jones, a work from home mom, with two very young active boys ages two and three. I recently left my career as a Nurse Practitioner in pursuit of becoming the mom I always dreamed to be. I took on a role as an online educator for nurse practitioner students, which allows me to spend every single waking moment with my babies and work while they sleep. It has been amazing but does not come without its challenges. Keep on reading

I wonder what kind of relationship you have with your mother? Not the one we see on social media on Mother’s Day, but the real, daily one. Is that a relationship filled with love, admiration, kindness, empathy and respect? Or is it filled with resentment, blame, emotional distance and unresolved anger? Maybe something in between or a little bit of both? Now, let’s go deeper and ask who is responsible for the kind of relationship you have with your mother? You? Her? I personally feel that a loving relationship with my mother is present every time I am the daughter I want to be instead of expecting her to be the perfect mother I want to have. This said, let me share with you that I am a work in progress when it comes to choosing love and taking the full responsibility. Keep on reading

Guest-writer: Thelma Ojedis

My name is Thelma Ojedis and I am the first guest-writer of The Octopus Mama blog. I am a mother just like you except that 16 years ago my right arm became paralyzed after a motorcycle crash. So, when I became pregnant with my amazing little boy Noah, who is now six-years-old, I knew I would need to do everything motherhood requires with just the use of my left arm. Despite the challenging scenario ahead of me (did I mention I was a single mom too?), I was committed to becoming a very prepared mother and to do everything differently from what I had in my childhood. I wanted to rock this “one handed mom thing”!  Keep on reading