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#HelpWomenatRisk with the Purchase of Minimalist Parenting Book

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Have you read Christine Koh and Asha Dornfest’s fabulous book, Minimalist Parenting?!  If you haven’t, you absolutely must because it’s wonderful – smart, funny, insightful, inspiring – the whole package!

And now’s the perfect time to buy it because Christine and Asha are donating 100% of book royalties to Women at Risk, an Ethiopian organization that helps women lift themselves out of prostitution.

We love Christine and Asha, and have for years, and are so proud of them for the great accomplishment of publishing their gorgeous book, and that they are taking on this special initiative to support Women at Risk.

Women at Risk provides Ethiopian women practical support, job training, and viable employment.  Christine and Asha traveled to Ethiopia as ONE Moms with the ONE Campaign in 2012 and saw firsthand the poverty there and its effect on women in particular, and ever since, have been committed to spreading the word about Ethiopian initiatives.

Cooper and Emily are ONE Moms as well and believe wholeheartedly in Christine and Asha’s work, and all of us at The Motherhood are thrilled to support them in helping women at risk by purchasing Minimalist Parenting using this special Amazon link: http://bit.ly/helpwomenatrisk.

You can also help spread the word by posting on your social networks using the #HelpWomenatRisk hashtag and special Amazon link. Feel free to use the sample Tweet below:

“Join @minparenting to support #HelpWomenatRisk by buying the book – all proceeds in October help women in Ethopia! http://bit.ly/helpwomenatrisk.”

The fundraiser goes until October 31st, so act now!  http://bit.ly/helpwomenatrisk

Find out more at http://minimalistparenting.com/helpwomenatrisk.

Save the Date for the Second Annual #GivingTuesday: December 3, 2013!

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Everyone has heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday… but what about #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday is a movement created by New York’s 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation that designates a national day of giving to kick off the holiday season. The movement celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations. The Motherhood is thrilled to have been a part of this fabulous campaign since its launch in 2012!

Last year we saw and heard incredible experiences of people finding unique ways to give back to their communities. We were so inspired by families giving up a meal to serve at a local food kitchen, business owners donating a portion of profits from Cyber Monday to a charity and schools hosting fundraisers and blood drives! We cannot wait to hear more amazing stories of how communities all across America decide to selflessly give back this year!

#GivingTuesday is on December 3, 2013, and we’re inviting you to get involved!

Organizations and Businesses:

  • Become a partner! Last year, #GivingTuesday had over 2,500 recognized #GivingTuesday partners from all 50 states. This year, the #GivingTuesday community has reached 3,000 partners and it’s still growing! As a partner, you will be given access to exclusive resources to help make your #GivingTuesday activation a success!
  • Use the Double the Donations to raise money for a charity at an even faster rate! Double the Donations service is free for GivingTuesday participants November 15-December 15!
  • Commit a portion of company proceeds from Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday to your favorite cause.
  • Give employees a paid day to volunteer.

Individuals:

  • Take non-perishable foods from your cabinets and bring them to your local food pantry.
  • Collect unused items from your closets at home and donate them to a program that helps place families in homes.
  • Hold a neighborhood yard sale to donate proceeds to a charitable organization.
  • Volunteer your time at a non profit organization.
  • Be inspired with other ways to get involved by checking out #GivingTuesday’s Ideas Page!
  • Catch a recap of GivingTuesday’s latest Google+ hangout “The Power of Storytelling” with Phoenix House and YouTube.

Everyone:

Will you be participating in #GivingTuesday? How do you plan to give back this year?

Six Simple Ways to Make a Positive Impact on the Environment

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Did you know that nine of the ten hottest years in recorded history occurred during the past twelve years? Recently, extreme rainfall and floods have affected people around the globe, from the Mississippi Valley to Beijing. Storms like Hurricane Sandy resulted in tens of billions of dollars in damages, as well as countless devastated lives. Insurance rates are continually on the rise.

Climate change is happening, and it’s taking a toll on our planet and our wallets. Science now tells us that carbon pollution is the number one factor when it comes to climate change – and with 90 million tons of carbon pollution entering the atmosphere every day, chances are that you’re exposed to the cost of carbon pollution in ways you don’t even realize.

The Motherhood is honored to join The Climate Reality Project – an organization founded by Al Gore – as they launch their 24 Hours of Reality global initiative, a 24-hour live broadcast that offers audiences the opportunity to join the conversation and learn how carbon pollution is affecting families around the world. The broadcast begins next Tuesday, October 22, at 2 p.m. ET, and runs through October 23.

This year, 24 Hours of Reality is focusing on the “Cost of Carbon” on the environment in regions around the world. Every hour during the broadcast will focus on a different inhabited continent – Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and North America – featuring individual stories and climate issues from each region, as well as a special address from former Vice President Al Gore discussing the way forward and a global call to action.

While the effects of carbon pollution can seem huge and unconquerable, the truth is that YOU can make a difference. We’re sharing six simple ways that anyone can help make a positive impact on the environment:

1. Spread the word. Tweet it, post to Facebook, blog about it! You can also help The Climate Reality Project reach one million people on October 22 by joining the Thunderclap!

2. Join the Google+ HangOut with Al Gore, Jason Mraz, Do Something, and Mashable on October 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET. This is the official kick-off of the largest-ever discussion on carbon pollution!

3. Join the #ClimateReality Twitter Party on October 22 at 2 p.m. ET, hosted by The Motherhood. We’re chatting with other moms about effective ways that we can spread the word and cut back on carbon pollution in our own lives to help make a difference! The Climate Reality Project chairman and former Vice President Al Gore (@AlGore) will be on hand during the Twitter party tweeting with us and @ClimateReality to help bring attention to the cause! Use the #ClimateReality hashtag.

4. Watch the 24 Hours of Reality: Cost of Carbon. During this 24-hour live broadcast, you’ll hear from experts, musicians, celebrities, and everyday people about the impact of climate change on their lives and homes. Follow the conversation online by using the hashtag #CostOfCarbon.

5. Change your habits. Switch your light bulbs to LED, power down electronics, don’t let your car idle, and recycle. See the EPA’s tips for more effective ways to reduce carbon pollution.

6. Contact your Representatives and Senators to let them know carbon pollution is an important issue that affects you!

How else can you get involved? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Learn Simple Steps to Prevent Serious Injuries to Children at the #BatteryControlled Twitter Party

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Remote controls, bathroom scales, calculators, thermometers, car key fobs … how are these alike? Aside from being very common household items, each can contain coin-sized batteries. What many parents may not realize is that coin-sized batteries pose a very real and very serious risk to young children. When a coin lithium button battery gets stuck in a child’s throat, the saliva triggers an electrical current. This causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours.

Every year, approximately 3,500 incidents of button batteries being swallowed are reported to poison control centers in the U.S.  In 2012, 17 severe injuries and even two deaths were reported.

As part of Baby Safety Month, The Motherhood is honored to be partnering with The Battery Controlled, an effort from Energizer and Safe Kids Worldwide, to share life-saving information with parents and caregivers about the potential risks of swallowing coin lithium batteries. The program shines a light on a growing issue and provides simple steps that parents and caregivers can take to prevent injuries to children.

Join Us for a #BatteryControlled Twitter Party 

What: As electronic devices get smaller, so do the batteries. But many don’t realize the hazard that button batteries present to small children. Learn more about this issue and simple ways to prevent serious injuries to children.

When: Tuesday, September 24, at 12 pm ET (9 am PT)

Where: Join the chat on Twitter by following the #BatteryControlled hashtag. See the Twtvite for more details and to RSVP.

Coin_Lithium_Battery_Safety_Infographic4 S’s of Battery Safety

To prevent injuries related to coin-sized battery ingestion, remember the 4 S’s of battery safety:

  • STORE devices that use coin lithium batteries out of reach of children.
  • SELECT battery packaging that complies with the child-resistant packaging standards and recommendations made by the staff at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, such as Energizer coin lithium battery packaging.
  • SECURE the battery compartments of devices and look for devices that contain a child safety feature for their battery doors, such as a screw or child-resistant mechanism.
  • SHARE this information with your friends and family. A recent survey revealed that 62 percent of parents are not aware of the dangers of coin lithium battery ingestion.

Visit www.TheBatteryControlled.com or www.energizer.com/coinbatterysafety for more information, facts and tips and watch Emmett’s story for a powerful illustration of such a small battery can cause big problems.

http://youtu.be/l_JILCIxxbU

 

 

Join the Working Mother Twitter Party to Celebrate Working Moms (and win cool prizes!)

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Whether it has been instilled in us from our parents, siblings, relatives or friends, we are all a reflection of the “good” that came before us.   Join the Working Mother (@_workingmother_) Twitter party on Thursday, September 26th at 9 pm ET (6 pm PT) to celebrate all of the great things working moms are doing to “keep good going” through work, family and perseverance. Join the party and follow the #KeepGoodGoing hashtag to learn from other working moms and share your own stories of “good.”

Katherine Lewis, Work Life Journalist and Working Mother Editor-at-Large, will be a special guest moderator to talk about how to appreciate your ongoing role in “keeping good going” and maintain a work-life balance as a career mom.

Working Mother will award be three $100 Target gift cards and a grand prize of an iPad to four lucky participants in the Twitter party! Visit the Working Mother “Keep Good Going” Twitter party page to RSVP and learn more about the party. An RSVP is required to be eligible to win prizes. We hope to see you there to help “keep good going”! Images courtesy of Flickr user dbarsky and Working Mother

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