While the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy was on, I was attending the Mommybites Summit in NYC for parents and expectant parents.  It was a lovely evening of learning, meeting new friends, and adult time. I attended with my sister.   We got to hear some amazing speakers,  and learn about some great new products.   Parenting topics from green living,  child safety, parenting in social media age, and more  you could find something for every parents interests.

HalRunkel from Screamfree Parenting was the keynote speaker.  He was a great,  inspiring really got me to think about how I am not responsible for my kids.  I can’t wait to read more about his methods in Scream Free Parenting book.

Here are some quick parenting points that Hal said that stuck with me.

• I am responsible to my children  not for them .. there behavior they own
• I am going to walk shoulder to shoulder with my kids as a tour guide.  You have to let them make mistakes or they will never learn
• Our job as parents is to stay calm
• Put on your own oxygen mask first take care of yourself first to be an affective parent

AliciaYbarbo & Mary Ann Zoellner the TodaysMom spoke on Work Life Balance.    Both women, work as producers on the Today show.  These 2 amazing ladies are balancing family and working full time at a high profile jobs.   We also got a glimpse of the dynamics of the Today show.  *Al Roker is apparently great at documenting his kids life taking photos of everyday life.. (I am  photo bug also so makes me love Al more.)

I really got a wonderful perspective from their mothering experience and how it can help me.  I was able to spend some time with and they were really approachable and realistic.   Check out the Todays Moms facebook page or buy their book which is a compilation of there own and others stories they have gathered over the years.

Here are some key Mom points I learned from the TodaysMoms.

• It is a matter of deciding when is the time to shutdown  turn off the I-phone and be in the moment with your family.  the  tip leave in car during dinner time.-  which they learned from TheMomComplex share of info the todaymoms are.
• Don’t run your home like your career
• Let your children judge you,  as a way of erasing your guilt.  You might feel horrible about missing something with your kids. They might not necessarily feel the same way ..so ask them.
• When you look at your parenting look at it as a month rather then the day to day (helps to avoid the mommy guilt)

The Mommy Bites Summit is a event that is worth make the trip to NYC for a night of adult time. I would recommend it next year.

Thanks to MommyBites /  BabyBites for inviting me to the summit.  Thank you to the great vendors and sponsors LemiShine The hard water expert and Britax.

Disclosure:  I received entrance and gift bag from this event but the opinion stated in this post are of my own .