Provident Mom

I heard a story this morning about a mother who began writing notes to her daughter. She wrote a short note every day and put it in her room. The notes were simple things like, “Thanks for helping to clear the table tonight” or “You looked beautiful in that blue shirt today.”

One day the mother was vacuuming while the daughter was away and closed the girl’s door to vacuum behind it. There she saw all the notes taped to the back of the door, a visual reminder of her mother’s love for her.

I loved this story for a couple of reasons. First, it gave me a great idea. Second, it made me think about how vulnerable we all are. We all need encouragement and thanks and praise, but we don’t always get it. Notes are a great way to fortify people in this way. People can always look at an encouraging note and get that boost again when they need it. And one little note can provide that uplift again and again.

Tonight I wrote a note to each of my three children. I noticed that one of them used it as a bookmark. One quoted to me from it. And third has made no mention of it whatsoever. I think I’ll keep trying it because I think love is a more powerful inoculation against despair than anything else.

There seems to be a great debate out there over prenatal vitamins. Which are better? Prescription or Over the Counter? After some serious investigation, I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re pretty much the same, but you’ve got to read the labels to make sure. If their vitamin content is the same, look at your finances. Can you get a better deal through your insurance (prescription) or over the counter (especially at Wal-Mart).

I picked up OneSource prenatal vitamins at Wal-Mart. They were less than $5 for 72 servings (2 pills a day), which will last me more than two months. On the other hand, my doctor gave me a prescription for Duet DHA prenatal vitamins. I paid about $44 for a 30-day supply. The marketing department for the Duet vitamins is clearly more sophisticated than the marketing department for OneSource. The Duet vitamins are downright cute with little hearts printed on the pills. They even have a subtle sweet taste to them, whereas the OneSource vitamins are plain Jane pills in a plain Jane bottle.

But I checked the vitamin content and they’re virtually the same. The only real difference is that the Duet vitamins have omega-3 fatty acids and the OneSource vitamins don’t. For a $39 difference, however, I think I can go buy a separate omega-3 fatty acids vitamin and still come out way ahead. So that’s what I’m going to do.

I know that many women feel that they have to do exactly what their doctor says to ensure a healthy baby. But I’ve been around the block enough to know that I always know my body better than the doctor (or even the midwife) does, and I’m smart enough to use some discretion. It doesn’t matter which vitamin has a better marketing department (or drug reps who buy lunches for the doctors). Using discretion and judgment now will help me be a better mom always.

Those of you thrifty provident moms out there who use coupons know how it works. You clip the coupons on Sunday and file them away in your coupon file. Then on Wednesday when the store ads come out, you go get the sale items you have coupons for. You get dirt cheap stuff, like Betty Crocker cookie mixes for .25. And you rejoice at your successful conquests.

But I’ve discovered something lately that has been extra super great for my grocery bill: loyalty card coupons. Here’s how it works. The loyalty card helps stores keep track of what you buy. This makes their marketing a little easier, but it also gives you coupons. When you check out, coupons will be printed at the register based on your buying habits. If you buy yogurt, you’ll get yogurt coupons.

Well, one day I got some of these loyalty card coupons, and one of them said, “If you’d like to receive additional coupons in your mailbox, please see customer service.” I did want more coupons, so I went to customer service and she did something in her little computer and then smiled and thanked me.

About a month later, I got a whole bunch of coupons in the mail, and some of them were for fresh meat and produce, which you’ll never ever get out of the newspaper on Sunday. Some of them said things like, “$12 off your grocery purchase of $120 or more.” This is gold! This has taken my grocery shopping to a whole new level. I actually feel a little guilty using some of these coupons, but hey, they mailed them right to my house so they must want me to use them.

So check with your grocery store’s customer service desk and see if they have something like this for you. You’re going to the pros.