Yes, Mrs. Hamm, I would love some advice!

I remember the first time I went through the checkout line at our local grocery store with a case of Gatorade. It was intended for a group of nine-year-old girls who were heading to play soccer in the pouring rain. While I don’t remember if they won, I do remember that it was the beginning of a long relationship with the must-have sports drink.

Since those days on the soccer field some ten years ago, I can’t even begin to guess how many bottles this family has consumed. We’ve taken them to outdoor and indoor soccer games; outdoor and indoor field hockey games; lacrosse games; track meets; football games, basketball games and baseball games. They’ve traveled with my children to summer camps, weekend clinics, summer tryouts, winter tryouts and camping adventures.

While the sport or season has changed over the years, the one constant has always, always been Gatorade.

As a parent I am always hoping that my children stay healthy and strong. I can’t always be sure what they’re eating on the fly, but I know when I have the Gatorade handy it’s my way of helping them stay hydrated.

I had a great opportunity to participate in an interview with Mia Hamm's mother, Stephanie Hamm, who offered not only some incredible stories about raising her family of athletes, but some touching moments as well. She is working with Gatorade to help educate parents and young people about important issues that families with athletes might encounter.

Her video, posted on the new mom's section of the Gatorade website, is moving and inspirational, so I was so excited to be able to speak with her, along with an amazing group of women.

I asked her about siblings, and the potential to feel slighted or ignored in favor of the more successful athlete. This has been a problem at our house, and she offered some great advice, and some great stories about life in the Hamm house.

She added that it is important to allow children to experience as many sports or activities that interest them, and then allow them the chance to choose the one that they feel passionate about when they are ready.

In the spirit of youth sports, in honor of all the mothers of athletes everywhere, I am thrilled to be able to offer one of you a $100 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods!!! That's right people One HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!

The rules are as follows:

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
 methods:



a) Leave a comment here about any advice for the parent of an athlete- what do you wish you had known when helping your child become all that they could be??


b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on this post.



c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post



d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the Official Rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry.




The dates for the sweepstakes are June 1 - June 30!!

Also, if you Visit here there are a TON more chances to win other things!

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. 
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail, and you have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be
 chosen!

So, give me your best advice, and let the sweepstakes begin!!

Alka-Seltzer? You're like an old friend

Alka-Seltzer is sponsoring a cool contest called the Said/Heard Contest! It's all about those silly misunderstanding that are a WAY OF LIFE for most families! (When I heard that, I knew I was in.) Do you have a humorous story or twenty to share about the many different times you or your family have misunderstood each other?

I offer Exhibit A:

Sassy attends a rather large high school here in this quaint college town in Oregon. There are approximately 754 young men and women graduating with her next weekend.

Last week she came home and as soon as she walked in the door she threw down her backpack and shouted (cause that's how we communicate in this house), "Mom! I am on the front of the yearbook!"

"The front? Like the front page?"

"No - the cover."

I thought for a moment, and replied, "The COVER page? Like the first page?"

"NO! THE COVER. THE. HARD. FRONT. COVER. Oh My God. How did you EVER become a teacher?"

And then she pulled it out of her backpack, flung it on the table, and ran away shaking her head.

She was right. The HUGE fifty pound yearbook on the table? Her pic is SMACK on the front cover.

And yes, in case you were wondering, it DID bring a tear to my eye. Or two.

Enter the contest here, and go to their Facebook page here!!!

The winner of the Said/Heard Mishaps Contest will receive:

A trip to New York City to star in an Alka-Seltzer online video featuring their entry!

The winning spot will premiere on the Alka-Seltzer Facebook page!

Plus $5,000 to spend toward whatever they wish!!

Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a contest it is!!!

(NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 18 years or older. Contest ends 2/25/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including prize description, visit http://www.facebook.com/AlkaSeltzerOriginal?v=app_7146470109&ref=sgm. Void where prohibited.)

(Disclosure: I am being compensated for this post by TheMotherhood and Alka-Seltzer. The story is my own.)

The train, the train! Someone stop the train!

I am THRILLED to offer this to one of you! It's a train show in The New York Botanical Garden!!! Here, read for yourself.

Experience the magic of New York City dressed to the nines for the holidays. The New York Botanical Garden's Annual Holiday Train Show has become a cherished seasonal tradition for families not just in New York, but across the country. Marvel as G-scale model trains puff along a half-mile of track in and around the 140 landmark buildings constructed entirely of natural materials: nuts, tree bark, fruits, pinecones, and leaves, housed within the warmth of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Called "one of New York City's best holiday gifts to itself," and a chance to "See the city anew," by the New York Times, the Holiday Train Show is a winter wonderland full of twinkling lights and the sights and sounds of New York City at its best.

A visit to the Holiday Train Show is an entire day of fun. Sip a hot chocolate or grab a bite to eat at one of our Cafes, decorate gingersnaps, visit with Thomas the Tank Engine™ (January 1-9, 2011), and stroll through the 250 acres of the Garden's grounds, spectacularly decorated for the show. Still have some names on your holiday list? Find just the right gifts at Shop in the Garden.

Thomas the Tank Engine™ Visits

Saturday, January 1–Sunday, January 9, 2011;

Weekdays 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Weekends 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

The classic childhood friend is back! Mark the dates to come photograph your child with Thomas the Tank Engine™. Become certified as an honorary engineer, and take home Thomas & Friends™ coloring sheets, stickers, and temporary tattoos, while supplies last.

I will give you a FAMILY OF FOUR pack!!! Leave a comment below, and I will have Mr. Random pick a winner on Friday morning!!! Tweet about it, and you will have two entries! Pay my rent for a month and they are yours hands DOWN.