I think it’s really important for moms of girls to show them how powerful their moms are. I try my best to do this in a variety of ways: working outside the home, volunteering for the kids’ sporting activities (i.e. team mom) and giving back to our community. But I also think it’s important to show them that we moms are physically powerful too. I work hard to stay fit and am always out doing active things like boating, hiking, backpacking, etc. (Carrying all the things you need to survive in the woods on your own back gives you a truly amazing sense of power.)
But my latest physical endeavor had a different spin. It showed physical strength, commitment and just plain silliness. I recently joined forces with my daughter’s soccer coach to compete in a Muddy Buddy race. Read the rest of this entry »
July 6th, 2010 by Chris, Legal Department, Sunnyvale office One Yodel
Jul6
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Uncategorized
It turns out you don’t have to drive a minivan across town at 7a.m. on a Saturday morning to be a soccer mom. You can simply have an 18-month old who chases his big brother around the front lawn while dribbling a shiny ball, and counted “soccer” and “goal!” as two of his first words. Or a 4-year old who insists on wearing shin guards, soccer shorts and the Sweden jersey his grandparents bought him as a souvenir to every single “game” where he doesn’t even make contact with the ball. But that smile and enthusiasm he has out there on the field, those are what make him a dedicated soccer kid. And me a proud soccer mom.
I never played soccer as a kid—and honestly, never really cared for the sport until my kids fell in love with it. Now I play it every day (yes, we even play in the garage when it’s raining), and I love the passion my boys show out “on the field”. We laugh, we get great exercise and I can see that we’re all showing signs of improvement.
And today, as the World Cup begins, I find myself surprisingly excited to share in this experience with my kids. Read the rest of this entry »
June 11th, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office One Yodel
Jun11
Categories:
Events n' conferences
Family time
Parenthood
Today is our 7-year wedding anniversary. And it’s funny, until we went away over the weekend, I hadn’t thought of it as a milestone year. But as we told people we ran into along our adventures what we were celebrating, the seven-year itch jokes began. I couldn’t help but wonder, should I be itching? (Besides the patches of sunburn that grace my typically bathing-suit-phobic skin, that is.)
While our marriage certainly isn’t perfect, I know that “perfect” wasn’t in our vows. I’m afraid I can’t tell you what was exactly—our 5-pound wedding notebook made its way into the attic when Dr. Seuss and Sandra Boyton took over the few bookshelves our teeny house holds. But I know the traditional better and worse, sickness and health, along with some not-as-traditional phrases made the cut. And, as fate would have it, there have been years where the scales have tipped toward the undesirable half of each phrase. But we haven’t just “survived” as people have joked. We’ve built a life—and started two new ones—together. Read the rest of this entry »
June 7th, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office 6 Yodels
Jun7
Categories:
Family time
Parenthood
Volunteerism. The word inspires some people to take action and makes others run and hide. These days, it seems, it’s doing more of the former. One year after President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, Yahoo! uncovered some pretty amazing stats about the increase in online searches for volunteering. In fact, from May 2008 to April 2009, searches for “volunteer work” had a 653% spike on Yahoo! Search. Perhaps it’s an online Obama effect, unemployment freeing up people’s time or even the Web and social media making volunteer opportunities more accessible. Whatever the case, it’s good news.
We asked the Yahoo! Mother Board to share their experiences with volunteerism and got a lot of great perspectives. It’s All About Balance shared her heartwarming story of how people stepped up to help her when she reached rock bottom. And now she’s paying it forward and teaching her children wonderful life lessons. Hormone Colored Days’ husband made the most of a tough situation as well by volunteering while he was out of work.
Some moms jump at the chance to be involved in every opportunity that comes to them. Bonngamom is one of the many Yahoo! Mother Board members who loves to volunteer at her kids’ school to connect with her children—and get a peek into their world beyond home. I love the approach Coast 2 Coast Mom has taken with her family who has moved frequently. They explore and connect with their community by participating in various charity walks and races in the greater NYC area.
As for me, I couldn’t help but relate to JavaMom who said that she falls into both categories: super-volunteers and slacker moms. Just like her, if you ask people in my various worlds, I’m one extreme or the other. While I would love to be an active part of my neighborhood (which has a bizarre, but wonderful number of ways to be involved), my son’s preschool, local charities and friends’ various walks, races, etc., I can only do so much well.
I’m trying to learn to say yes and no—at the right times. I was inspired by Chefdruck Musings who said, “Now when I say yes, I never do it in the heat of the moment, regardless of the pleading eyes directed at me. I take the time to consider the good my contribution will do and how much time it will take away from my family.” The bottom line for me is that I want to enjoy the volunteering I do, dive in and do a great job and inspire my kids to be do-gooders in the process.
Happy volunteering…however you choose to do it!
*For more posts on Volunteerism read the blogs of the Yahoo! Mother Board!*
June 3rd, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office No Yodels yet
Jun3
Categories:
Family time
Giving back
Parenthood
Tips and tricks
Those of you who know my husband know he’s a pretty amazing gift giver. He’s extremely thoughtful, generous and creative. This Mother’s Day was no exception. He and the boys surprised me by sending me away to the local Westin for a night to enjoy some “me” time. They decorated the room with flowers, musical cards (this was the first year Munch could actually write his name!), candy, wine and magazines.
At 4 years old, my husband trusted Munch with the secret. He knew for a week and worked so hard not to tell. One time he even sang quietly, as if to convince himself, “I have a secret and I’m not going to tell.” And he almost made it. Almost. But when they came back from their last pre-celebration errand, he shouted, “Mom, we saw a limo at your hotel!”
It was ok though. I had my suspicions. This glorious tradition started last year when I was at the end of my rope after just returning to work from maternity leave and having a sick baby who hadn’t slept more that a 2-hour stretch in a couple months. (And, hey, if that’s what it took to be a spoiled for a day, so be it.) Read the rest of this entry »
May 26th, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office One Yodel
May26
Categories:
Family time
Me-time
Parenthood
Place: Sunnyvale
Uncategorized
You know how they say bad things happen in threes? Well, somehow my family seems to be the exception to that rule. Multiples of three maybe, but it never seems to stop at three.
In the past week or so my mom has come down with shingles (I know, technically not an injury, just go with it), I’ve re-injured my mysterious bruised ribs/torn muscle, my dad—whose mobility is already limited due to the effects of brain cancer—fell and broke his leg, and my brother got in a bike accident that left him with road rash, a concussion and a bruised arm bone. On top of all of that, my sweet aunt who loved and lived life with such zest passed away.
Cue the violins…I know.
Truly, I’m not sharing all this to gain sympathy—we all go through hard times. But this time of insanity has given me a bit of perspective. Don’t get me wrong, there are days I just want to scream. There were times in my life when one of these incidents would have pushed me over the edge—and the collection is certainly overwhelming at times—but today I find myself filled with gratitude. Read the rest of this entry »
May 18th, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office 6 Yodels
May18
Categories:
Family time
Place: Sunnyvale
Last week we got back from a short vacation. A road trip to LA. We visited the favorites—Disneyland and Universal Studios—plus some pretty stops along the way.
But what set this trip apart from others is the fact that it was our first since getting pregnant—almost two years ago. Yes, you read that right. After I learned I was expecting, I didn’t travel anywhere. Unbelievably foolish as it sounds, I was always worried that too much traveling in the car might be harmful to the pregnancy, or that going different places might lead to an infection. I wanted to keep the baby as safe as possible. I didn’t want to do anything that could remotely put the pregnancy at risk. I didn’t think I would be like this, you know. After all, it was my first time being pregnant and my pregnancy was like a text book pregnancy. But even so, the worrier in me just didn’t want to travel. Read the rest of this entry »
May 17th, 2010 by Vrushali C., Senior Technical Yahoo, Sunnyvale office No Yodels yet
May17
Categories:
Family time
Place: Sunnyvale
Imagine this. You’re at the airport bright and early because you’re about to go on a much-needed family vacation with your husband and child. You’ve been up all night packing and finishing up last-minute details for work. You’re very tired, but so excited to be finally going to Mexico. All you can think about is lounging in a beach chair, drinking a margarita with your husband, and watching your child play around in the sand.
Not!
The reality is that you’re at the airport bright and early, but your son is hanging onto your knees crying, and your husband is looking extremely grim because the ticket agent at Mexicana Air has just informed him that his passport expired last August! Read the rest of this entry »
May 13th, 2010 by Chris, Audience Marketing, Sunnyvale No Yodels yet
May13
Categories:
Family time
Me-time
Parenthood
Last night, my husband sweetly told my son that he’d drive him to preschool in the morning. Since he’s done that a total of, say, 3 times, this was a big treat. For Munch and for me. (It’s not the he’s unwilling to take him, it’s just that usually Munch prefers I take him and I really enjoy it.)
This morning I decided to forgo the makeup and throw on sweats so I could dive into work. I recently started a new role that has me really excited about getting to work. I’m loving what I’m doing (and I’m not just saying that because my boss is likely to read this). I had a huge list of things to accomplish and since I’m working from home this morning, I could do them all—uninterrupted.
Then—just 10 minutes until preschool departure time—I realized that today is the one day of Teacher Appreciation Week I was actually supposed to do something. Two somethings, in fact. Read the rest of this entry »
May 11th, 2010 by Amy, Influencer Marketing, Sunnyvale office No Yodels yet
May11
Categories:
Childcare
Family time
Jobs at Yahoo!
Parenthood
This year, Mother’s Day takes on a new meaning. Not because I’m a fresh-faced, first-time mother or that I was “born to be a mother” because my actual birthday was on Mother’s Day. I am both a very thankful, proud mother of 2 girls—Anna Jade (8) and Malia Bella (6)—and the grateful daughter of Nicki Beth. And here’s why this year is different.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer this week. Again. You see, we already did this, back when I was 12…it was awful, but he survived. My brother (10 years old at the time) and I really didn’t think about my mom, of course. It was all about us. I was like that one girl in Square Pegs (ok, that will totally date me)—the brunette with the jacked-up braces and stripy wool sweaters. Awkward, insecure and selfishly trying to assimilate into a typical San Jose junior high school with your standard-grade Mean Girls. My dad’s cancer was a nuisance sometimes, I hated to admit it, but it was true.
And my mom? Well, she worked. All. The. Time. (Says the 7th grade me). Read the rest of this entry »
May 7th, 2010 by Michelle, Product Manager, Yahoo! Careers, Sunnyvale office (by way of Roseville) 11 Yodels
May7
Categories:
Family time
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