Here is my newest article from The Kansas City Star:

Slow down and take a deep breath
STACEY HATTON COMMENTARY

While leaving my children’s preschool one morning, I fortunately was reminded what every parent needs to hear at the beginning of the day: slow down! Who would say that to your face? No one with any sense of decorum — maybe with the exception of hall monitors or lifeguards. I was indirectly asked to slow down by a woman walking behind me who let out an audible exhalation. Actually, she could have blown me out the door with it!

Now, she didn’t realize she had done this, because when I turned around and mentioned it, she was embarrassed, so sorry. But I think she did me a favor. I am here to pass on her exhalation to you parents of young children out there. (Please, insert yours here. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.)

As the caregivers of our offspring, today’s society has programmed us to be in high gear all day long.

How many times have you gotten through the kids’ nightly bath and thought, “Where did the day go? Didn’t I just have my first cup of coffee a minute ago?”

We are creatures of habit and nurturers, so we run through the day repeating: feed, clean, feed, clean, feed, clean, clean, read aloud, fall into a pile of mush and pass out. Doesn’t this sound familiar?

I think breath-holding has become an epidemic problem. We need to start a movement to change this behavior. No more walking through life with our shoulders up to our ears, wracked with stress! No more headaches brought on by forgetting to eat or drink water for half the day! No more absentmindedness from multi-tasking to the extreme when you really aren’t doing anything well because you can’t focus on one thing at a time! No more weekly appointments to the massage therapist or chiropractor! OK, I take that back. I didn’t mean to say that.

Let me break down this problem medically. Our body needs oxygen (and food and water) to survive. When we are stressed, humans have a tendency to take shorter inhalations and not exhale completely. Breathe in oxygen; breathe out same amount of carbon dioxide. That’s what we should do.

Many of us stressed individuals walk around holding our breath the majority of the day. This is not good for us or the plants, which need our carbon dioxide to survive. It really isn’t just something made up by yoga instructors or granola crunchers of the 70s. You need to get rid of extra carbon dioxide in your body. And if Whitney Houston can do it, so can you! No waiting to exhale.

So when you feel your stress creeping up on you, stop and exhale. Exhale daily and deeply. Think about it. You might even save a plant.

Stacey Hatton is an Overland Park pediatric nurse and freelance writer. Her blog is at http://nursemommylaughs.com.

Posted on Tue, Jan. 19, 2010 10:15 PM

If you didn't attend the Kansas seminar on Social Media, I'm so sorry!  It was informative, well-attended and fun for all.  Jenn Bailey, a social media guru from the area, did a bang up job and not only was a wealth of information, but entertaining as well. We tweeted, Facebooked, blogged and many other things.  Such fun!

You can catch her at nationals at the NY SCBWI conference, where she will repeat this program for the masses.  Don't miss it if you are wanting to "up" your business.  She is a leader in the "how to market yourself as a writer" business.  Two thumbs up from me.

I am excited to announce my newest child, the one who will truly drive me crazy...my brand new spankin' blog!!!  It is called "Nurse Mommy Laughs" and is where I will be showcasing my tri-weekly blogging about how to keep your chin above water in the Mommy field.  www.nursemommylaughs.com is the site and I would love to have all you mommys out there, come on over and share what makes you the best mommy ever!

I don't have to tell any of you, because Oprah has said it a million times, but "Mom-ming" is the toughest and messiest job out there!  We all need a place to vent, and I would like to open the forum so Mom's around the world can gather support from the only other people around who truly understand!

Hope to see you there soon!  - Nurse Mommy (aka Stacey)