A few days ago I saw a very pregnant woman in my local grocery store. She had a toddler clinging to her leg and she looked like the very definition of uncomfortable. Without thinking, I gave her a sympathetic look and we struck up a conversation. Our friendly chat found an instant topic, waiting. What did I do when I was waiting for my daughters D – day? What has she done to occupy her time and her mind?

This got me thinking about pregnancy and the big waiting game those forty weeks turn out to be. Moms-to-be are constantly trying to pass the time, first it is for the initial visit to the doctor, and then for the ultrasound, and then they anxiously await the baby’s first movements. The pregnant woman has a life that is ever changing, and it seems that she is always waiting in line for the results.When I was nine months pregnant with my daughter I was desperate to fill my extra time. I went grocery shopping, cleaned the house, and fixed the nursery. I even dragged myself to my office job each day up until labor pains set in. Every woman gets through the mom-to-be waiting game differently. How did you get through yours?

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With summer, right around the corner, thoughts turn to fun in the sun! Less people are shopping on-line, sales slump, and sellers are busy with vacations, taking care of children, and spending time outside. I am constantly searching and brainstorming for ideas as to how to market my store. I want to work smarter, not harder, but sometimes it seems as if all I do is work, work, work, and see few results. I know that it takes time ( some say up to a year or more!) for you to brand your name and business.

So, I have been thinking of all the things I have tried to market my Mommy Auctions store, and things that I want to try. Hopefully, some of these ideas will help you! You have to spend money to make money, and some of these strategies do cost some upfront money.

* Craig’s List- I will sometimes list an item here to drive traffic to my store. I haven’t had any sales yet, but at least it gets my store name and url out there!

*VistaPrint- A lot of the moms on Mommy Auctions use this fantastic site to order business promotional items. With the numerous free sales they have, you can’t go wrong! I like the business cards, postcards, car magnets, frig magnets, pens, and t-shirts! When I design a postcard, I like to offer a promotional discount for repeat business. It can be as simple as stating, “mention this ad to receive a 20% discount!”

*Flyers are easy to create and you can print them at home. I use them to highlight items in my store, have my url plastered all over it, and again, offer a discount.

*Something I just ordered and received are scratch-off cards. They are like a business card and have a scratch off area for your customer to scratch and win. Mine were custom-made by terra@easyscratchoffs.com. She made me cards with various discounts (10% off, 20% off, free shipping, etc). They look fun, and I will send them out with customers’ order.

*With the season of yardsales upon us, I will leave my biz card when I make a purchase! When I host a yardsale, I always give out my biz card, flyer, and have the Mommy Auctions flyer with pull-off tabs visible. Last month, I participated in a community yardsale and was able to talk with many women about Mommy Auctions!

These are just some things that I have tried. Sometimes, it is hard to tell if your efforts really are paying off or not. However, with the increased traffic here at Mommy Auctions, I would say that sellers are getting the word out! Hopefully, my efforts will pay off with a few sales and increased recognition and I can spend my time at the pool with the kids!

What has worked for you? Leave me a comment with your promotional ideas!

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In order for children to learn, they need to stretch their minds. That means that they need to be challenged. Reviewing things they already know helps them remember them but in order to go forward they must learn to grasp new concepts. Challenge also keeps a child interested.

While challenge is a very good thing it is important not to go overboard with it. Doing so will just cause the child to become frustrated. He might give up on the task at hand and even develop distaste for the entire subject.

So how do you know how much challenge is too much? Sometimes it is difficult. It is important to keep activities attainable while still making sure that the child is in fact learning new things. Here are some ways to do that:

* Electronic educational toys often allow parents and children to choose a skill level. Make sure that your child is working on a level that is appropriate for him. If you’re not sure, watch while your child goes through the levels starting with the lowest. Determine the highest level he has mastered and have him work on the next one.

* Most computer learning games automatically go to the next level when a child has mastered the previous one. If there is an option to save the game at each level, try to make sure that he does so. Then, instead of going back through things he already knows each time he plays, he can start out on a level that is a challenge for him.

* An older child’s schoolwork might be a good indicator of what he has mastered and what he needs to work on. If there is an area he has trouble in you could expand on it at home. If he appears to have mastered everything you may want to talk to his teacher about giving him more advanced work to do at school or at home.

* If your child has educational toys that he doesn’t play with try to determine why. He will probably just tell you that he doesn’t like them, but it could be that they are either above or below his individual level. If you can get him to try them while you supervise, it could provide some valuable insight and help you make better selections in the future.

Working on a level that is comfortable for your child yet provides a challenge is crucial to his educational success. Too little challenge will cause your child to become bored and too much could cause frustration and low self-esteem. Always remember what is good for one child might be very different from what is good for another child of the same age. Taking cues from your child will help you decide what level is the best for him.

What tips do you have for other moms?

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I just got the news that my best friend is in labor. She is currently sitting in our local hospital anticipating her son’s arrival. I am so happy for her that her wait is over, and she will soon experience the joys of first time motherhood.As a first time mom myself, it was only a few months ago that I had to plan for my own hospital stay. So, as a result of my recent experiences I have spend the last few weeks helping my friend prepare her hospital bag, and I am confident that she will have everything that she, her husband, and her son needs to be comfortable and as happy as possible during their stay.Many first time mommies wonder what to pack in their bag for the hospital. For my bag, I consulted another mom and a few other reliable sources; the following is a list of a few essentials that most mommies should not overlook:

Hygiene products: Yes, the hospital will give you some hygiene products. But keep in mind that they may not be what you want or need. Pack everything you may need in this category. Just remember to choose a package of pads instead of tampons.

Comfortable clothes: I recommend packing two outfits, one that you can wear during your stay and one fir the trip home.Under garments: Think a nursing bra and a few pairs of soft cotton panties.

Baby items: Bring a diaper bag stocked with the essentials. Clothes, hats, socks, diapers, wipes, and blankets. Check out what is listed on Mommy Auctions for ideas or hop onto our community forum and ask the moms what appropriate items they have for sale.

Items for dad: Just a few things for a sleepy dad will help a lot. My hubby opted for a change of clothes, a few snacks, and hygiene items.

Always remember that other mommies are here to help! Visit our forums to chat with new and experienced moms for ideas!

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