Adulting 101: Separation Anxiety

It's been a while since I've posted. In fact, since my post on 30 things to do before 30; life has changed drastically for me; so much so, I am living in an entirely new country! Crazy isn't it. Shortly after my 30th birthday, I received a job offer from a major distributor in Turks & Caicos Islands. Initially, I turned down the offer. At that point, in my mind, there was no amount of money that would convince me to leave my family. After some deliberation, visiting the small island and seeing the possibility of starting new, I accepted the offer.

Fast forward a few months later, here I am, new job, new home, new life; and while its extremely exciting, there are these emotions that I have been feeling and can not seem to shake.The biggest of all being coping with separation from my daughter. See, I made the decision to leave my daughter back home with our family until school is done, so as to not interrupt her learning or pressure her with culture shock during the school year.

I never quite understood the emotional strain of separation anxiety until this week and I thank all you bloggers who've helped me during this unique experience. This is not easy but there are a few things that have kept me sane during the transition:

1. Knowing this is just short term: school closes for my daughter early June. When you think about it, I only have about 2 months of separation; keeping this in mind; coping has been easier.
   
2. This is for the better: honestly, if I had moved with my daughter ( and my dog) all at once, have to figure out schooling and start a new job all by myself ( the joys of single parenting), I think I would have given up. It's simply too much. During this time, I am able to sort out my new routine, confirm schools for her and create a home she can find comfort in once she arrives.
   
3. Talk about my feelings: this has been the most difficult. I am not big on sharing my feelings with others. I talk about everything except how I feel. Fortunately, I have a few great friends who I can discuss even the craziest of things with and they have been instrumental in calming my nerves and bringing me back to reality. 

The best thing about all of this is that I have connected with an amazing family who has made the hassle of moving much easier. They are loving and accommodating plus they feed me! Couldn't ask for anything better. So I am here, starting a new and enjoying every new day.

Have you moved to a new country, or done anything life changing without your kids, what things did you do to cope?


Until next time,
Bahama Mama now in TCI!

FACT or FICTION: 5 Pregnancy Myths Revealed

Being pregnant for me was the best nine months of my life! I got to eat whatever I want without worrying about my weight, everyone wanted to help me, even when I didn't need help and best of all, I could demand just about anything at anytime and get it. You know, because no one wanted to be responsible for scarring the baby (evil smile). Despite the generosity received while pregnant, one thing I hated most were the old wives tales about pregnancy, motherhood and what to expect when expecting; some so ridiculous, they were hard to believe.

So after speaking to a few medical professionals, researching the "interwebs" and reading articles, here are some are five pregnancy myths exposed!

Myth #1: Pregnant women CAN NOT wear heels.

Depending on the the height of the heels, its okay to rock you cute shoes. Yes, with heels.  By the second trimester, your uterus has grown significantly causing curvature in the back, you know the cause for those pregnant waddles. Wearing heals 2 inches or more puts a lot of stress on the balls of the feet and alters your center of gravity; all of which are already happening with the pregnancy. Simply put, It's not necessarily harmful to baby or your pregnancy, but can place unnecessary pressure on your back and foot which can lead to a lack of balance for mother and baby. 

Myth #2: Your belly is round and sitting high, you are having a boy.

No. Doctors are not even 100% all the time, therefore the shape, size look of a woman's body does not determine the gender of the baby. 

Myth #3: Does stretching or reaching for something cause harm to mother or baby during pregnancy?

Stretching and light exercising such as pregnancy yoga are actually quite helpful for pregnancy and will ease with delivery. Now there are exceptions if mother has had a preterm delivery, previous problems with incomplete attachment or the placenta; however, light work outs are completely okay. Aggressive stretching or stretching of heavy items are an absolute no!

Myth #4: Cravings translates to odd shaped birthmarks

This is not a medically proven fact, however, there are many moms who would disagree.The jury is still out on this. Thank goodness I don't have a strawberry patch on my thigh! 

Myth #5: You are eating for two, so eat as much as possible!

OK stop. Not so fast. Put the spoon down! Yes, you're eating for two but that doesn't mean two adults. According to Webmd, "the average woman with a normal weight pre-pregnancy needs only about 300 extra calories per day to promote her baby's growth."

Now that we know the truth about the above, what crazy myths were you told while pregnant? Share your stories with us!