1. FIND A DAY CARE THAT YOU ARE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH. You should be able to say good-bye to your child in morning and go to work with absolutely no worries. Your mind should be on work and not your child's well being. If you have any concern at all, talk to your provider about it. If you don't get relief, it's time to find another place that you feel relaxed about. Your feelings regarding care of your child are your best resource. (By way, a day care provider could never, never take your place. You are Mommy, and no one else can fill those shoes - period! She provides a warm, loving substitute for you, but a substitute is just that and no more.) 2. REALIZE WHY YOU ARE WORKING! Is it because you want to be away from your child? Probably not. It may be that you are a better mom because you also have a professional identity. You may be able to create better moments together when you are not with your child 24/7. You're not alone. Most moms feel that way. Isn't it true that you are working to provide a great lifestyle for your family? The truth is that you're doing it "for" your kids not "to" your kids!

3. DO WHAT YOU LOVE! Could you maintain your lifestyle without your job? If not, make sure you love what you do! It changes your whole outlook if you love your work. Answer this question: "Does my job add to my life or take away from it?" If your job is sucking life out of you, it's time for a change...

IF YOUR JOB IS SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF YOU...It may be that demands of your career consume your time and leave little to nothing for your family or yourself.

IF STRESS, FRUSTRATION AND GUILT, FROM THE JOB YOU HAVE, ARE NOT THE LIFE COMPONENTS YOU CRAVE, THEN THE TIME TO CHANGE THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

DON'T SPEND ANOTHER DAY feeling anguish of working-parent-conflict! Do one thing today to put control of your career, and your life, back in YOUR hands.

It's up to you!

When all tests and reports came back, Hematologist told me that I had developed allergies. Funny, I never had an allergy in my life, but suddenly they developed now, after surgery! Nothing specific, mind you, he never said WHAT I was allergic to, only that I had allergies.

I'm very skeptical of doctors who believe that side effects from surgery include arthritis and allergies!

I DIDN'T have Leukemia, Lupus, Mononucleosis, Lyme Disease, Hepatitis B or C, Tuberculosis, Diabetes, or Sugar problems. Again, we still had no answers. No one could figure out what I DID have.

One morning I woke up with 103.2 degree fever. More blood tests, more antibiotics, more sleeping. I had big, white pus pockets on my throat but culture came back normal! Again, nothing was diagnosed, and fever went away in a few days.

My doctor did notice, however, that bone marrow results showed absolutely NO iron in my system (the Hematologist didn't mention this, only allergies) so he put me on an iron supplement, and referred me to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor.

Thank God for Dr. Deems! In just one visit he found out that I had Epstien-Barr Virus (also known as Yuppie Flu), and more importantly, a systemic yeast infection called Candida Albicans. The Epstein-Barr had to run its course. Since it's viral, there's no medication. The Candida can be controlled, and sometimes eradicated, with medication and diet.

Within weeks of starting anti-Candida program (mostly a change in diet and one medicine), I was feeling better than old me...no more tiredness, no more mystery illnesses, no more questions. The headaches were becoming fewer and farther between and I wasn't in a fog every morning when I woke up.

Dr. Deems also thought we should take out my tonsils (I hadn't had them removed as a child because of a blood disorder I was born with. Thirty years ago they didn't have technology to operate on me--now they do.) I was told it would cause a set-back with Candida, but he thought it would be worth short-time reversal. On June 5, 1998, tonsils came out. The set-back was hardly noticeable. I went right back on anti-Candida program, sans tonsils, and wound up more than 25 lbs. lighter (with no exercise!) than when I found first lump. My triple chin disappeared, and I got to go shopping for short-shorts!

Best of all, though, is how GOOD I have felt ever since! If you or someone you know has some, or all, of symptoms I did, a Candida infection could be culprit.

Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired? by Patty Blair is available through Blair House at: Sick-and-Tired.info ISBN#0-615-12386-4 $7.95