What Matters Most

I had a moment today when I was mad.  Quite mad.

But then I realized.  It doesn’t matter.

But this does.

Today, Coop and I went exploring.

We found rocks.  Lots of them.  Small and tiny.  White and Brown. Speckled and plain.

When he said prayers tonight - the only thing he said ‘thank you’ for:  ’going exploring with Mommy’.

That Matters.

It matters that he cooked dinner with me.

And.

That he tipped that chin up at me, waited a beat until he knew in his little 3 year old heart that he had my full attention and then he whispered, “Mommy, is it ok with you if I stay three forever?”

Yes,  Coop, you can.

And that is what matters.

Most.

A Few Questions for the PR Minded

This is not intended to be a rant.  At all.

Merely a question, or a conversation starter.

File this under Improving Blogger and Pr Relations.

Because I think the collective voice of the two sides is tremendously powerful.  But there is still a gap in understanding. (note: this is not a blanket ‘this-applies-to-everyone’ statement)

I have worked with some amazing, fantastic PR individuals and firms.  That goes without saying. And I would love to encourage that Blogger/PR Relationship. And yet, I am perplexed by something.

I receive emails like this a lot:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Danielle,

Over the past few months, there has been anticipation around the release of XXXXXXXXXX in the U.S.… The wait is over! Your readers will be excited to know that XXXXXXX will be available for pre-sale, starting today at both XXXXX and XXXXX for $XXX.XX

The product will be available in-stores and for online shipment starting March 28. Please keep in mind that quantities are limited and are available while supplies last. Feel free to share the pre-sale information with your readers, or direct them to the below Web sites for more information on how to reserve a unit for themselves.:

(links to sites)

Additionally, your readers will enjoy the new features on XXXXX including:

Best,

XXXXXX

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I have to confess, I am perplexed.  Here are my questions:

*Is the hope that I will just copy and paste the press release on to my site?

*That I will be so excited about the release that I will tweet the links? (Despite the fact that my family will NEVER be using this product)

*Does this mean that the sender does not know that I am NOT a Deal/Coupon site?

*Does this type of blind email work?

*What would be the most helpful feedback?

I get lots of what I call ‘news-type’ press releases: St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas, 7 year old girl writes book, Ways to Combat H1N1, How to be smart on your taxes, etc.  These make some sense to me - partially because I’ve done a few HARO requests looking for an ‘expert’ on a topic and now I’m on a few email lists. But just a straight, ‘your readers will love this/post it’ seems odd.

If I am misunderstanding, set me straight.

Also…..I don’t know if you got this email - I know some people who did, but really?

Hi,

I’m currently doing web promotion for my client. I was wondering if you’re
willing to do a blog post for them on extraordinarymommy.com. My client is
willing to offer $50 for this blog post. We can also provide the blog post
content according to your guidelines.

If you’re interested, payments are sent via paypal. Or if you have a different
proposal, let me know and let’s see how we could work things out.

Thanks in advance,
Iris

Are there people (Iris could be anyone - I’m not saying she is a PR gal) who believe I am so desperate to make $50 that I am willing to agree to post about an anonymous ‘client’? That I will potentially sacrifice content on my site for someone who clearly knows nothing about me?

I want to be clear about something.  I am NOT questioning sponsored posts.  I have done sponsored posts.  I am not questioning anyone’s desire to make money from their site  - in fact, I hope that you can.  However, I don’t think it would be wise to agree to sponsored content without know what that content is.  And I question this particular approach.

That would be a ‘no, thank you very much‘.

I would also like to address this from a, “what can bloggers do to improve relations’ standpoint.  Post coming soon.

I would love to know your thoughts. Share away.

Edited to add to the conversation 3/9/10:

I wanted to share a comment I received via email from a PR friend of mine here in St. Louis.  Brian works at Blick and Staff Communications. He wrote:

St. Louis Children’s Photo Contest - Lace Images

A few years ago, when I was elbow deep in wedding planning, there was a local photographer who did everything she could to make my experience as seamless as possible.  She went out of her way to hold my hand when necessary and also keep me smiling.

Since that first meeting, this photographer, Gina Kelly, has become a friend - she is responsible for dozens of amazing photos of my family, Christmas cards going back years and, of course, she took the picture that was stolen and used in a store window in Prague.

She, along with the amazing Arina of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, is holding a children’s photo contest.

Now, this isn’t your average ’submit-the-picture-you-love-the-most’ contest and hope someone else thinks your child is cute.  This contest is FANTASTIC.

Why?  Because everyone who enters gets a FREE SESSION with Gina….in the St. Louis area location of your choice.  You also will get a FREE 8×10 of the photo Gina takes that is entered in the contest.

Can you stand it?

The contest runs the entire month of March - until the 31st and is open to kids and babies in the St. Louis area- age 12 and under.  You will HAVE to call to make an appointment.

The Grand Prize Winner will be featured on the inside front copy of St. Louis Entertains Magazine, Spring / Summer issue, a 16×20 Gallery Wrap Wall portrait and $200 worth of photos from Gina Kelly/ Lace Images
Winners will be posted online at Lace Images.
The Prize Package is worth $2500.

Second, third and 2 honorable mentions will also be given wall portrait awards.

Your session with Gina will last 30-60 minutes - and you have a choice:  she can come to you (and bring backgrounds) or you can go to her.  She is taking appointments for every day in March except the 6th and 13th (she has weddings scheduled)

Be creative - if your child rides horses, is a ballerina, won’t go anywhere without their favorite teddy bear - that’s how they should be photographed.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges (including me) on April 1st.

Good luck! (and call Gina soon!)

I left my heart (or some of it) in Vancouver

Six days.

144 hours.

That is the extent of my official Olympic experience…but the love and lessons will stay with me so much longer.

If you’ve been following any of my Olympic coverage, you know I owe the experience to Procter & Gamble.  They asked me to come to Vancouver to share, in my own words, the Olympic experience, as well as the beauty and gratitude that surround the P&G Family Home.

It may sound cliche to call this the opportunity of a life-time, but that really is just how it felt.

I could rattle on for hours about my thoughts on the Olympics Games, the 50 degree temperatures, the Canadian Pride, the aura surrounding an actual Olympic event (I went to Ice Dancing and Curling), the jolt I got from visiting the Getty Images crew, the Olympic Flame, those darn-cute Olympic mascots (my kids adore Muk-Muk), or the flashbacks to my Canadian Childhood (Canadian bacon, brown sugar and toast with butter and jam, anyone?)

But I promise to keep this shorter than that.

I have always loved the Olympics - even as a little girl I was mesmerized by the drama - the punch in the gut of a fall, the pride stretched across the faces and chests of the athletes wearing their country’s colors, the tears and sacrifice that combine for a win….a bronze, a silver, a gold.

I loved walking the streets of Vancouver…..the maple leaf decorated hats, store windows, cars and, of course, mittens.  The volume would increase as Canada’s stakes in the medal count continued to climb.  When Jon Montgomery won gold for skeleton, strangers high-fived in the dark, yelling, “did you hear?”  And when Joannie Rochette’s mother passed away the Saturday before she was slated to compete…..Canada wasn’t the only nation crying for her.  To say nothing of the fact that Joannie put her skates on and competed…..she skated for her mom - that was evident.  And, wow….what a proud mom she must have right now.

Which brings me to Moms….and the true reason I spent time at the Olympic Games.  You saw the P&G commercials, right?  I stubbornly wiped my eyes every time I saw them….knowing my husband was preparing to tease me for over-active ‘mommy emotions’.  But you know what?  I can feel those commercials.  They are right on when they say, ‘to their moms, they’ll always be kids’.  That’s how I feel now and my small people are…well….small.

Every mom I met in the P&G Family Home.….every athlete I talked to recognized that bond.  These moms stand in the rain for 10 hours to watch their kids ski down a mountain.  They get up at 4am to get them to an early practice before school.  They travel weeks out of the year, witnessing growth and setbacks from the sidelines.  They feel the joy of a win and the pain of defeat.

And for all of that….this was a chance to say Thank You, Mom.

I now understand that willingness to sacrifice.

Given the opportunity, I’d do it too….my kids are my world.

A few Olympic highlights for me if you haven’t had a chance to see them:

Chatting with Bronze Medalist Shannon Bahrke and her brother (and fellow Olympian) Scotty.

Julie Chu - Silver Medalist for Women’s Hockey.

Speed Skater, Allison Baver.

Chad Hedrick and family after he won the Bronze Medal for Speed Skating.

Putting the spotlight on the Thank you, Mom Campaign.

Two of My Olympic Favorites - Shannon & Scotty Bahrke

You would have a hard time finding two Olympians with as much spunk, kindness and love of family as Shannon and Scotty Bahrke - I A.D.O.R.E.D talking to them….watch, you’ll see why.

Today - A small miracle

Ok - maybe Miracle is a strong word….but you know, sometimes a small step forward for your child can feel like you have donned a cape and danced over the buildings of disrespectful and non-listening children?

That’s what happened this morning.

My sweet girl did something she has never done before.

After getting herself dressed….she went downstairs (all by herself mind you - no prodding), packed her lunch, packed her backpack and put on her socks and shoes.

I know you might be thinking - ‘big flippin’ deal, Danielle’. But it is.  It is huge.  It is monumental.

She came back upstairs and said, “Mommy, I have something to tell you…I’m all packed and ready for school.  All I have left to do it put on my coat.”

I paused.

This caliber of news deserves a pause, I tell you.

I glanced down and tilted my head - trying to see if she looked as different as she suddenly felt to me.  Except for the grin splitting her little face?  Nope - same Delaney.

She was so proud.  I was so proud.

And I promise you, she is going to know how proud I am - every single minute I am with her today.

This is a child who normally needs to be told 6-7 times, “please put your shoes on.”  And she has NEVER, I repeat, NEVER packed her own lunch and backpack - at least without tremendous prompting.

It is only Monday, and yet:

Mommy - 1, World - 0.

From Baseball to Cookies and Milk - Those Special Moments

He is not even two years old. He leans back in his chair, placing his small fists behind his head…..pausing only for a moment to make sure he has the ‘pose’ just right.  He adjusts his lean, starts to lose his balance, rights himself and glances again at his Daddy.

It is his Daddy that he mimics.

All day.  Every day.

And this picture is just the beginning.

Cooper lives the role of ‘Mini Me’.

He sits like Daddy.  He plays baseball like Daddy.  He reads Sports Illustrated like Daddy.

But what is most remarkable to me are the ‘little moments’.  Sometimes it is like I am not even in the room - and that is ok with me, because I am witnessing something magical.

I always knew Jeff was destined to be a tremendous Daddy….but I can honestly say, I never knew how ‘tremendous’ would be defined.  I didn’t know it would include leg rubbing for growing pains in the middle of the night, hours of pitching, rolling in the grass playing tackle football, doing bath time almost every night, or making up songs to elicit the best belly laughs.

And while there are a few habits I would just as soon he keep to himself, there are some that make me giggle as I see them being passed on.

The love of baseball, naturally.

But even better, the special things I know Jeff did as a little guy  - like his love of cookies and milk. The guy simply cannot have cookies without a big glass of milk - and guess who is following in his footsteps?

Coop, or course, also puts his hands in his pockets like his hero, can recite the Cardinals starting lineup, hates tomatoes, and will do anything to avoid cleaning his room.  (Just like his Daddy)

Me?  Well, I’m partial to Oreos….and I could eat them with or without milk - and that is just a little something the small dude shares with ME. (and, I’m sure you can picture his Oreo Face when he’s done!)

If you would like to share some Mommy/Daddy/Little one time - cookies and milk is a fun place to start (can you see the love?).  Head on over to Nabisco’s Facebook FanPage, join, and get the chance to receive FREE Nabisco Cookies starting March 1st (and the 1st of every month for the rest of 2010!) while supplies last. A coupon can be downloaded from the page.

This post is sponsored by Nabisco and One2One Network, though the content, pictures and emotion contained within are purely mine and mine alone.

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