Local Online Resources For Families With Multiples

Having multiples in your family truly is multiple times the blessing and is a unique experience. Love received and given by multiples is a joy that words sometimes can not describe. If it takes a village to raise a child, then raising multiple children will require the whole village and the entire tribe. Having immediate parenting resources, helpful tips, or just to being able to connect with someone who "has been there-done that" is priceless for families with multiples. Parents can sometimes feel like they are alone and outnumbered by their multiples. Its not always easy being parents and there are unique situations that parents of multiples face each day. For example, logistically, getting to and from any place each day, with a set of multiples, can seem like planning a military strategic operation.


A resource to families of multiples is the "Life With Twins and Multiples" blog. The blog created by Central FL mother, Kristen Stehli, features parenting ideas, advice, contests, and honest talk about parenting multiples. Kristen has invited current moms of multiples to be co-authors on the blog to get a wide perspective on life with multiples. The following co-authors are expert bloggers and/or Moms of multiples: Kristen from Life With Twins and Multiples; Jennifer from Twinhappy; Nicole, Mom of twins & 1 child; Joscelyn from Orlando Parenting Multiples Examiner and Mami & The Multiples; Raven, Mom of a surviving set of triplets & 3 children; Elayne, from Solinox Enterprises ; Carla Rose from Carla Rose Coaching; Amanda from Ravens Repose Handmade Soap Co; and Pam, (fellow Examiner) Bismark Budget Meals Examiner, and Cooking For Seven.

Another resource open to all families, including families with multiples, is Mami & The Multiples. This blog was created by me to offer parenting resources and helpful tips to all families, including families of multiples and bilingual children. As a new resident of Central FL from the Washington D.C. area, I'm currently experiencing first-hand the joys (and trials) of living in a new state, new home, and new surroundings with a family that includes toddler twins. (On a side note, leading bloggers of Latin descent were invited by General Mills to Miami to witness the re-launch of their family lifestyle website, QueRicaVida.com. I was honored to be representing Mami & The Multiples at this event. Please feel free to find out about QueRicaVida.com and the wonderful family, fashion, and women oriented Latina bloggers via http://www.mamiofmultiples.com/2010/05/general-mills-quericavidacom-and-latina.html)

If you are looking for playgroups in the Central FL area that are open to families of multiples, Kristen, is the organizer/administrator of several different groups in the area. Two "multiples friendly" groups are North Orlando Sunshine Moms and Twins & Multiples Ages 0-4 Playgroup.

If you live in the Central FL and/or just want to connect with Kristen or Joscelyn, please feel free to use the following:
Kristen: TwinsandMultiples@cfl.rr.com
Joscelyn: joscelyn@mamiofmultiples.com

And if you are a parent of multiples, be encouraged and know that you have an entire "tribe" who are supporting you!

For More Information: Visit Life With Twins and Multiples: http://lifewithtwinsandmultiples.blogspot.com/ and Mami & Multiples: http://www.mamiofmultiples.com/

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A Little Laughter Makes Each Day Easier...

You just KNOW that this MOM does not get to sit around with four laughing babies all day, so what a gift it is to have this moment! Remember to cherish the fun times, they outweigh the crazy times it we let them!

What did your multiples do to make you smile today?

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Foam Mats for Playing on

OK so as much as I like the standard alphabet and numbers foam mats for serving their purpose of a safe place for babies to crawl, they just are a huge pain in the rump.For one they do not always fit into each other and I hear, although my twins do not do this... a lot of moms have issues with them coming up easily and catching their babies chewing on the foam pieces. YUCK! Also they are NOT that thick. They bubble up and get these parts where it is all poofed up and coming apart from them sliding when you walk or crawl across them.I was constantly reshaping the foam mat we have, we have 2 sets of them because we have ours boxed in by 2 superyard XT play yards to make a nice play area. I tried them with and without the edges/borders. Every time one of us gets in there we had to be ultra careful not to scooch around or the foam mat would get all messed up. So I was having to take out all the toys and redo the mat at least 2 times per week. Let me just tell you how annoying that was.I also did not think it was enough padding when they topple over while sitting, crawling, trying to stand etc. It really was not at all.

SO a while back I saw a set of the alphabet/numbers/shapes floor mats at onestepahead.com I pondered what the difference in them and the ones I had would be. Well after careful through, research, and consideration I said OK and bought them. I bought 2 sets of the alphabet plus a set of the shapes. I plan to go back and buy a set of the numbers as well in the near future. HOLY cow they ROCK!!!!! They are SO THICK!! They are very sturdy, you can feel the difference and see the difference right off the bat. The colors are way more vibrant and the quality is 10x what the other ones are. Plus they ARE recommended for birth and up where as the other ones are for 3 years and up.They seriously are not kidding at one step ahead when they say it is the most thickest foam mat you can get. It is amazing. So much cushion and padding. So very durable for walking, scooching, and crawling on. I am 100% satisfied with this mat and we just got them this week!!I highly recommend getting them!I use another set of foam mats under our jumperoos for nice padding on their feet as well, the old kind. I think I may just upgrade there too and get a set of the ones from one step ahead to go under our jumperoos as well. The One Step Ahead foam mats

One Step Ahead Baby - Interlocking Foam Puzzle Mats

The other ones I was using Amazon.com: Alphabet 'N Number Foam Puzzle PlayMat: Toys & Games

                                                          

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