I just received a contract from the Editor of Turtle Magazine for Preschool Kids wanting to publish my action rhyme in their July/August 2010 issue.  I am so thrilled to have this opportunity and look forward to seeing my work with illustrations or photos.  Thanks so much Ms. Harshman!!!

Please refer to http://nursemommylaughs.com  for tri-weekly blogging.  Hope to see you there and would LOVE to hear comments and questions!   Stacey

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)

I have decided to step it up a notch and focus mainly on my parenting/humor commentary articles.  I feel the most comfortable with this genre and can see myself putting a book together.  In order to do this, I am going to blog M - W-F's.  The working title will be, "I've got a terrible case of the Mommy blogs." I'm sure that will change before Monday.  I need to have a goal and this seems like a challenging, yet achievable goal.

My first official blog will begin on Monday, January 4, 2010.  Until then, I will finish my antibiotic and get rid of my stubborn sinus infection.  Oh, by the way...Doctors who mock patients who have had a terribly sick 2009, should be punished to sit in close quarters with a toddler and a preschooler.  Just food for thought... now back to my Kleenex.

I must say that in the last few weeks I have started to feel like a professional writer.  I have submitted two commissioned pieces for KC Parent Magazine and have 2 more due by the middle of December.  My first commentary article based on my four year old's princess birthday party was published in the KC Star, and I entered 2 writing contests. 

The first contest entry was a challenging one.  Not only to get a catchy query letter written to the agent creating the contest, but to figure out in a short time frame how to "youth myself up" and learn how to change this insane website per contest requirements.  I think I spent more time doing that than writing the %^&%  query letter.  It was a great challenge, though, for I now feel a little more well-versed in the website management department.  Oh, I'm so proud!

Since I am enjoying writing my parenting commentary articles, and I am going back and reading old Erma Bombeck articles, I decided to submit one of my newest published pieces to the Monthly Humor Writer contest from Erma's foundation...or Ms. Funny Pants, as the children and I like to call her.

Have you ever noticed that some people/writers like to use the same salutation (and even program it into their email documents) for every email?  Some are interesting, some professional, some expressing their mantra or life values - I am going to start trying out new ones and see what feedback I get.  That is if I can figure out how to program my signature line in Vista.  I used to love Windows.  Who ever thought Vista was a good idea?  Some Sadist from Boise who has a beef with anyone with a shred of intelligence.  I am sure he or she is a lovely person - but vindictive, oooeee! 

(Salutation #1)
Pickles & Tickles,
Stacey

I have to say I have been flying high since I found out one of my articles will be printed in the KC Star Neighborhood News section on November 4, 2009.  "The Pressures of the Perfectly Precious Princess Party" was accepted a few days ago.  Can't wait to add the "link!"

I have started a new project which is exciting and overwhelming.  My father and I were allowed in the vault at the Dyche Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas earlier this week. We were granted access because my father is the grandson of Charles Dean Bunker, one of the curators that worked side by side with Dyche when they created the panorama.

When entering the building, I thought it possible a book idea might arise; but I was so moved by my great-grandfather's story and contribution to the field, I knew someone needed to share his story.  Non-fiction is not my favorite genre/style, but the story needs to be written accurately.

A lot of research is needed, but I will make the time to find the facts.  Thankfully, my father has agreed to assist me in the research.  It is a tireless process.  Information will be comprised from his remaining field journals from the early 1900's and other journals and articles discovered so far.