There's Just Not An App For That

My most frequently fielded question is .... why do I need a "paper based" handbook system for my family when my technology works just great for me?

The simple answer is there just isn't the technology available to provide your family with an easy to understand guide to how your household operates. Our lives as moms are much more complex than our i-phones, pc's and our information straddles the "electronic" and "paper based" platforms.

NOT SHAREABLE
There are many reasons, but the biggest reason is that technology is not a universally "shareable" device. Our PC's & personal devices do not give us a "clear voice" and they do not clearly interpret our intentions for our family.

My i-phone is meant for me only. I store information at a moment's notice (generally on the fly in the carpool line) and contact fields are most likely not used to their full capacity. I can't tell you if the "phone number" for my doctor is in the doctor's proper "work #" field - it may just as easily be stored in the email line because that is where my cursor landed at the time. I really can't even ensure that my doctor's name is spelled correctly in my i-phone - so my husband may not be able to find it in my device if he tried.

NOT EASILY INTERPRETED
Now - assuming my i-phone contacts were in pristine condition and every contact was labeled correctly. If I was in a medical emergency, my husband would not be able to know who was responsible for running carpool that day, unless he looked at my carpool schedule (in my daily routine tab). He also wouldn't know the bus number for my son (in the Myers Park traditional tab).

NOT WORTHY OF MY DEVICE
The even bigger reason is that the majority of this information is not worthy of my i-phone. I want (and NEED) to be able to look up the email address of the assistant preschool registrar, but I don't necessarily need her information in my i-phone. I also NEED to know the emergency contacts for the children in my carpools, but I will never logically remember how to look up Grandma Myrtle (of no relation to me) in my cell phone if I need her in a pinch. I need her information in a list with all of the other information for my carpool crew.

I bet that one day there WILL be an app for this. I would love to develop it! But until babysitters, caregivers, schools, doctors, summer camps, service providers and everyone else goes 100% paperless ~ us mom's are going to need our handbooks.

Purple Martin Clients Pay It Forward!

All clients of The Purple Martin & Co. are automatically a part of my passion ... "Paying It Forward to Youth In Crisis." By working with The Purple Martin & Co. to create a "Family Handbook" for your family, I automatically make a donation in your honor to The Relatives.

The Relatives is a co-ed, 9-bed emergency shelter for runaway, homeless, and other youth in crisis from ages 7-17.
The Relatives is the only shelter for youth in Mecklenburg County and it is operated by a local nonprofit agency called Alexander Youth Network. The money to pay for the shelter to be open every day of the year and around-the-clock comes from national, state and federal grants, corporations, foundations, individuals and even some former residents.

I have coined my mission "Families Helping Families" ... for the simple fact that as I help your family create a "safe" and critical family handbook, I make a donation in your honor to help keep other youth & families in crisis safe, too.

I want to take a moment today to thank the more than 50 clients whom have already participated in the initiative during 2009! The children thank you, the staff of The Relatives thanks you and I personally, want to thank each and every one of you! Your support has helped many families & youth in crisis.

For additional information on "The Relatives," & other ways you can help, please see www.therelatives.org.

Valentine's Ideas?

These ADORABLE shirts put guaranteed smiles on my girls' faces today! A cute custom valentine is a photo of your children that you stick on a piece of card stock and have the kids decorate! They make PRICELESS gifts for grandparents!

To order your valentine t-shirts from Kamie Rudisill - see www.dizzydaisydesigns.net

A Purple Martin Fave ~ Valentine T's

Looking for something really sweet & unique for your children this Valentine's day? Customize an ADORABLE ruffle edge T-shirt by Dizzy Daisy Designs. My kids received Dizzy Daisy custom shirts for Christmas and they were a BIG hit! Kamie's business is a personal favorite of mine and her designs can be put on water bottles (stainless steel), stationery, bag tags & more! Check out her website at www.dizzydaisydesigns.net Live in Charlotte and pick up your order at Kamie's home to save the nominal shipping charge.

The Obvious Information We Frequently Overlook ...

Mom Tip ~ The obvious information we need to have at our fingertips is sometimes the most frequently overlooked. Most of us wouldn't think of our address as being a critical piece of information ... it just seems so obvious that someone in our home should know where we live.

However, we often forget that a new babysitter will not automatically know our address if he / she had to call 911 to report an emergency. He / She may not even know your spouse's name.

Additionally, if a neighbor had to come into our home to assist in an emergency, he / she may not know our critical phone numbers. Or, if your child needed to call your spouse at work, would she know the number?

A great way to keep all of this information available at all times is to keep a laminated sheet by your phone that has the following critical information:

1. Your Names
2. Home Address
3. Home Phone Number
4. Your Cell Numbers
5. Work Number / Spouse's Work Number
6. Work Fax Number / Spouse's Fax Number
7. 911
8. Poison Control
9. Phone Number for Your Alarm Company
10. Primary Physician's Phone Number
11. Veterinarian (if you have a pet)
12. A list of all allergies, prior surgeries, and current medications for each family member.

If you have a family handbook, all of this information should be kept in the "emergency section." Make sure all of your family members are familiar with the location of this critical information.

Customized Week at a Glance Journals ~ Priceless

Journaling the "Crazy Moments" of Mommyhood Provides Laughs & Perspective.

It has been awhile since I have updated my blog with the latest happenings of the "Mo-Nado" aka our "Molly Tornado." She is now 2 1/2 years old and is still reinventing the phrase "busy toddler." The photo attached is how she greeted me the other morning at 6:30am ~ yes, that is a blue ball point pen she used to draw a "Rudolph nose" and "mustache" on herself (she told me herself - proudly).

I just had to photograph the moment before I searched the house for the other "remnants" of her "pen destruction." Luckily, she managed to avoid marking up the furniture & walls too. This photo now graces the page of January 14th in my "Mommy Journal."

My New Years Resolution was to "look for the good" in each of my children every day ~ despite the tough day to day challenge parenthood can "feel" like at times. To help remind me of their precious childhood qualities (these years are much to short) during the frustrating "ball point pen moments" I have started a mommy journal.

It is a simple "week at a glance" calendar I keep by my bedside table. Each evening I document one silly, sassy or even frustrating moment for each of my children. I journal how the moment shows their "personality," "good intentions" or "growing pains." It is something I re-read the next evening and end up laughing hysterically at how they each brighten my day ~ even in the crazy moments.

For your "week at a glance" customized mommy journal ~ email thepurplemartin@bellsouth.net or call (704) 724-9108 ~ cost is $45

Mom's Pick Their Style ~ Your Children Provide The Inspiration! Nothing replaces your hand-written record of your children's funniest moments!



All the best ~
Lori Martin

Irony ~ My Car Accident, My Handbook & A "VERY Stunned" EMT!

Today I had the unfortunate experience of being in a car accident. Defintely not what I needed as I was beginning a day full of children's activities, work commitments and christmas plans. It is amazing how something that interrupts all that we thought was important can immediately put life into perspective for us.

The accident happened while I was sitting at a traffic light. The driver behind me thought the light was green (even though I was stopped) and hit me at approx 30 mph. I am so thankful that my children were not in the car & my Honda Odyssey did a decent job holding its own & protecting me to the best of its ability.

I ended up needed medical care and emergency services (fire, police & ambulance) were on the scene pretty quickly. When the police officer approached my side door to begin asking me the standard litany of emergency related questions (insurance, where you hurt, what are you allergic to, what is your name, address, height, weight, birthday etc.) I quickly told him that I had a "handbook with fish on it (my paper choice) in the glove compartment and it had everything he wanted to know about me in it."

I was in shock from my injuries and thanks to my "dork book" (like my sweet husband calls it) the EMT's & police officers were armed with all of my emergency contacts, my emergency room of choice, auto insurance information, medical insurance information, medical history & allergies and much more!

When I was placed into the ambulance I made sure the EMT had my handbook with him. (I didn't even think to ask him where my wallet was ... it ranked way down the food chain in importance to me at the time). I knew I was facing an entire day in the ER and that I would need help with my children for the rest of the day. My contacts & family information was critical (all was in my handbook) and my phone was lost at the scene of the accident.

When my husband met me at the hospital (thanks to my handbook) he had the ability to call all 3 schools, a list of babysitters to help with the kids, neighbors to walk the dog, & my insurance agent. When the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nurses all had shift changes during my stay and needed to ask the same health questions over again, he directed them to my handbook so I could rest!

Needless to say, it was definitely not a fun afternoon, but all was so much easier with my information all in one place! (even the EMT wanted one :-))

Happy holidays!