In the past few years, the internet has exploded with new web sites and blogs targeting moms (and dads, too.) Working moms and dads, stay-at-home moms and dads (SAHMs and SAHDs), single, divorced, writer and executive parents—for any label you might identify with, there's a corresponding deluge of URLs now vying for your attention. So, I decided to help try and cut through the clutter by reviewing some of the best, and will soon will be launching a Mommy Blog + Parenting Web Sites Directory on Care.com.

Here's a handful to get you started:

Maya's Mom

Online since: October 2006
Founder: Ann Crady, CEO
The skinny:
One of the original niche social network-family advice hybrid sites, Maya's Mom allows parents to connect, journal, and share based on a selected group (public, private, or hand-picked "friends.") Ann leveraged her past experience as an executive at Yahoo! to launch Maya's Mom as an original Silicon Valley startup, and it is still considered one of the very first established "mommy blogs." Big brands took notice: Maya's Mom was recently acquired by Johnson & Johnson-owned Babycenter.com.

Work It, Mom!

Online since: Spring 2007
Founded by: Nataly Kogan, CEO and Victoria Grace, President
The skinny:
Launched by former venture capital junkies turned working moms, Work It, Mom! is a hybrid parenting advice and social networking site for moms looking to find that ideal work/life balance. A fair amount of the content is member-written, making it both relevant and community-oriented (plus a great way to get published!)

Mommy Track'd

Online since: Mother's Day, 2006
Founded by: Amy Keroes, CEO and Dawn Dobras, COO
The skinny:
Calling itself the "working mother's guide to managed chaos," Mommy Track'd is a fun and stylish site offering parenting articles, product picks, and more reviews for the professional mommy-nista set. Tongue-in-cheek features like the "Three Martini Complaint Department" sum it up best: funny, chic, and playful.

Mom Corps

Online since: 2005
Founded by: Allison O'Kelly, CEO
The skinny:
Serving as " an innovative, highly-selective, professional staffing solution," Mom Corps helps thousands of moms stay in and return to the workforce while managing their family and personal life. Online and offline events, like the Mom Corps Coffee Club, help moms find the professional and parenting resources they need to be successful.

Role Mommy

Online since: 2005
Founder: Beth Feldman and Yvette Corporo
The skinny:
Capitalizing on sarcastic humor and real-life experiences (versus expert advice, Role Mommy serves as just that: role models for the modern mom. Founders Beth and Yvette come from the fast-paced and entertaining world of broadcasting, and their professional experience lends a unique voice to this content-driven site. Check out their recently published book, Peeing in Peace: Tales and Tips for Type A
Moms.

Check back next month for more recommended sites and blogs to help you navigate the internet parenting world. Stay tuned in to my newsletter and blog for more info!

Cheers,
Sheila

I've been thinking: how do I address the needs of my family's health and wellness?  When can I make the time to think about it at all?  It's something that’s on my mind, but rarely do I have time to bring it to the surface in way that's meaningful. And, from year to year, my family's needs change—and so may my concept of health and wellness.  I thought one of the best things to do right now is to just make a start and not wait. 

So if it's helpful, here are few ways of thinking about your own family's health and wellness.  It's not just a about New Year's resolutions—it's about everyday practices that keep us mindful of our own happiness and health.

• Aside from taking care of routine physical care appointments with the doctor and dentist, make a short list of other health-related appointments or activities you've had on your mind.  Did you want to see if massage might help your aching back?  Have you always wanted to try a Mommy-and-Me yoga class? Keep the list short and be aware that the more realistic it is, the more likely it is that you'll actually do the things on the list.  So if you've always wanted to try a spin-class, check out one class at your local gym or YMCA to start, don't sign-up for 10 sessions with an Olympic-level trainer just to get your exercise plans off the ground. The latest trend in trying too hard often means we don't give ourselves the chance to experiment and/or get acclimated to a new activity.

• Find ways to share meals together.  This is so difficult these days.  But, it's one of the most well-documented recipes for successful family health and wellness.  You might just have to be very creative.  Can't do dinner?  How about breakfast?  We try and make breakfast a routine at our house every day, and try to eat dinner together at least 4 times a week. I don't feel guilty anymore if we can't eat together every night. We also try and make some of our meals special—like a "picnic dinner," even if it's in the living room.  It's memorable! Technology may be on its way to helping families have dinner together, too—especially when it comes to elder care.  The virtual dinner can help close the gap for many families.

• We try and focus on doing family activities that encourage exercise and paying attention to nutrition. A family bike ride is always great. Now that our big guy is 15, we sometimes schedule working out with him and he loves the attention. A grocery store visit may not always seem like a great family activity, but we try and get our kids involved in looking at the food we buy and showing them the trade offs we make. We hope it will rub off on them when they're older and are making choices on their own. And we always discuss the ingredients in our food during meals.

• If you have pets, take the time to schedule their veterinary appointment with the help of your kids. Bring them along to vet visits to teach them firsthand about the health, and wellness concerns that go into caring for a loved one.

• Seize the day or moment or second!  Sometimes, it's catch-as-catch can when it comes to taking part in family rituals, thinking about health and wellness issues, or keeping a journal.  If you suddenly discover you have a moment or two on your hands, make the most of it.  Being creative about how to reinvent your family time might help, too.

There's no rulebook for improving your family's health and wellness—you just need to pick a starting place and get past the first few steps. The fact that you've taken a little time to start thinking about it is a good sign.  Keep going!

Keeping it all together, while balancing a whole new set of back-to-school lessons, sports teams, and classes is enough to put even the most relaxed of moms over the edge. I think it's important not to over schedule the family, but getting some help with all the transport to different activities can be a huge help.

Try the following to help you in a pinch or on a regular basis:

• Check Care.com babysitting resources and get a high school or college student to help. Even if it's just an hour here and there, though regular, this is a perfect "starter" job for young people.
• Don't forget you have friends in exactly the same situation as you are.  Ask them about it.  Chances are carpooling opportunities will be found.  Or, trade off days for drop-off and pick-up when your kids have activities in common. And remember to tell your kids about safety rules when waiting for you or a care provider to pick them up.
• In some cases, when kids are in an after school day care program, it's extra tough to figure out when to get that guitar lesson in. Call your school and ask if there's a room or space available, near the extended day program, where your child can meet with their music teacher, whether or not that teacher is affiliated with the school. There's no standard procedure for this, so call your school and ask. So much goes on at a school in the "after school" hours—it might be a great option as long as it's ok with the school administration, your child, you and the music teacher. There's probably a series of permission notes that will accompany this solution!
• When sharing driving with other moms, make sure your child has a written permission note give authorization for the pick-up, if it's not going to be you. Many programs, classes and lessons have forms for this very thing. Get it done in advance so your child doesn't get stuck!

And, here's something special to remember: Sunday, September 9^th is Grandparents' Day! Your kids will love to do something special for this occasion.

Check this great resource for more about Grandparents' Day, things to do and especially gifts and crafts to make with the kids. I know it seems like a lot to keep in mind with the start of school, Labor Day, and new classes and lessons. But, holidays are wonderful rallying points for all of us—and our Grandma's and Grandpa's deserve it. If you're really lucky, maybe the kids' grandparents live close enough to help out with all those lessons and sporting events too!