WorkingMom.com is the website for people trying to give 100% on the job and 100% to their family -at the same time. To give 200% day after day, year after year, without burning out from the stress; you will need a miracle.
Fortunately, God is in the business of miracles.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

We address both the practical and spiritual needs of working moms with free resources used by thousands of families with a mom in the paid workforce every day.
"Saving You Time, Energy and Money" is the Working Mom motto."Revitalizing the Working Mom" is our mission."Replenishing the Working Mom's Spirit" is our purpose.
WorkingMom.com is visited primarily from people without a religious background. In our first year online, we've shattered stereotypes about: working mothers, religious people, as well as business women. We hope and pray that you enjoy our website, and that when you leave here you feel encouraged and better equipped to meet the challenges of being a busy working mom.

2 More Stress Busters

ExerciseGet moving! We can all benefit from the stress reducing and energy enhancing benefits of moderate exercise in our lives.
It has been found (in hundreds of studies) that exercise is one of the most beneficial stress-reducers around. It can improve blood flow to the brain, increasing the brain's alpha waves (this is associated with calmness and relaxation), reduce blood pressure, decrease muscle tension, and raise endorphin levels.
A flow of endorphins following exercise leaves you with a feeling of well-being. Walking is a great exercise that can be done alone, with your partner, and even with kids in tow.

Enjoy Some Music

Allow your tensions to melt away with the music. Play music that fits your mood.
Sometimes you're in the mood for a relaxing instrumental, while other times, the hard beat of rock n roll will be just what you need.

source- ivillage.com

Quick way to elminate stress

Keep a JournalFind a quiet place and time, and begin your journey within. There are no rules when writing in your journal, except to be honest with yourself. (Lock your journal, if necessary, to maintain the privacy you need to feel totally free to express yourself.)
A journal helps you to process the experiences in your life. Buy a journal that you'll enjoy writing in each day. Invest in an assortment of pens to fit your various moods. You can write about anything that pertains to your life. Write your feelings. Talk about your dreams, your plans for the future, the books you love, your favorite quotes ... Anything that has touched your life.

Join the Club!

Stressed out? Join the club! With a baby to care for, as well as dinners to prepare, a house to clean, emails, cell phones and seemingly endless commutes, it can feel almost impossible to find time in your day to just kick back and relax. And if you do happen to find a few minutes, you're at a loss for what to do.Kicking back and recharging your batteries is just what you need, especially when raising little ones. What's stopping you? Leave your problems behind, for a short while at least, and give yourself permission to take a much needed time-out. by Deb Donovan

MD Gift Ideas from the heart

Moms just want to be acknowledged and thanked for their dedication and hard work. Give the best Mother's Day gift this year.
Mother's Day is a day to appreciate your mom. Appreciation is giving thanks for their love today and in the past. Give your mom, the perfect mother’s day gift that will last a lifetime. Many mothers can remember a memory but not the flowers you purchased ten years or even a year ago. Be creative in your gift and give from the heart.
1) Dreams Come True
Inconspicuously find out some of your mother's dreams and fulfill one. The dream can be as simple as not doing laundry or as daring as skydiving. You can participate in fulfilling the dream or hiring an expert to fulfill her dream. Often moms will put their dreams to the side. What better way to say I Love You than fulfilling a dream that will last a lifetime.
2) Special Memories Book
Create a book of special memories between you and your mom. Use drawings, photographs, and write a paragraph or two of why it was a special memory.
Example: Picture of you and your mom at an amusement park. Under the photo, you write; this is a special memory because we both were scared on the roller coaster and it was funny to see you screaming.
3) Spa Oasis
Create a spa oasis for your mom in her bathroom. The first step is to clean and declutter . Ask her permission because many of us are overprotective of our 5 year old lipsticks. After it is clean, purchase some spa essentials such as luxurious bath towels, soaps, candles, and little trinkets to warm up the space.
4) Date with Your Mom
Make a special date with your mom to have a simple dinner and some conversation. Most moms just want to spend a little time with their sons and daughters talking about their life. This is the time to just let her comments slide off your back if they are negative. This is a day to treat your mom as a friend, keep the conversation to the positives in your and her life.
5) Feng Shui the Home
Hire a Feng Shui Consultant for your mom. Many of us want a change but need a little push. Ask your mom if she wants to change something in her life and give the gift of Feng Shui. Feng Shui has the power to remove the old and stagnant chi and replace it with vibrant and new chi to aid her in achieving her life goals.
6) Mosaic Picture
Find a picture of you and your mom from the past or the present. The picture can be a close up or a scenic picture of you both walking in a forest. Gather all the photos of you and your mom throughout the years. Some examples are your first day of school, your wedding day, and the day she brought you home from the hospital. Create a mosaic picture with all of these photos. Frame the photograph with non glare glass. Each small picture will call upon a memory that will bring a smile to your mom.

by Debbie DeSpirt

How to Become a Work-at-Home Mom

BY Rebecca Garland

Working mothers may have more options than they think when it comes down to office locations. Making the decision to work at home can offer a mom everything she wants.
For many career women, it is a dream to take the job they enjoy and transfer it to where they want to be – at home with family. Some jobs just don’t transfer well, but many others, including ones that may not immediately spring to mind, have options available if company and working mother are willing to make the switch.
Telecommute
The most publicized way of working at home is to take an existing career and simply change offices. The home office replaces the business office, and email and telephone help bridge the gap. These working mothers must often still work during traditional business hours, but with reliable childcare in the home or more limited hours at a day care or school, there is still more time in the day for family. Some companies are willing to allow working moms to stay home a few days a week, which is still better than not having any time to work at home.
Off Hours
Some lines of work are more flexible and do not require standard business hours. These lucky work-at-home moms can spend the day with their children and focus on projects or whatever work is waiting in their in-box during naps and evenings. This leaves little leisure time, but it works for quite a few mothers. The more flexibility a working mother has during the day, the better she is able to manage her many workloads.
Change Departments
If a mother is in a position where she simply can’t take the job home, such as a teacher or manager, she might consider changing departments or taking a lateral move. This decision resides on the mother, but will need permission from an employer as well. Many employers would rather accommodate a working mother than lose her completely, but the mother should approach this decision carefully as it may have a lasting impression on her career ladder potential.
Self-Employment
If all else fails, many mothers leave a traditional place of employment to find a career that is more flexible. Some work-at-home moms host various parties for scrap booking or interior decorating. Others take up a freelance version of an older career. Still others look into working on items such as transcribing records or data entry for companies that can be done on a flexible schedule. This option holds the most flexibility, but it also has the largest risk factors in terms of salary and benefits. There may be no benefits and income can be highly volatile.

Losing weight for the hectic mom

Dieting quickly is complicated. Most diets call for wholesome foods that can’t be found at a drive -in or restaurant. With no stove at the office to whip up something nutritious, working moms must again get creative.

The most obvious solution is left-overs. If a mother managed to find time to create a healthy meal the night before, she should save a bit for lunch the next day. Of course the trick here is finding time the night before. Many working mothers use the weekend as a meal preparation time.

These mothers prepare dishes for the week and put them in the refrigerator or the freezer to have ready as they rush in the door from work every evening. By making five meals on the weekend, there is something healthy for dinner and lunch the next day.

In a tight spot, such as a rushed meal or required lunch meeting, there are other options. The salad is always an optin but be on the lookout for fried toppings or fatty dressings. Consider keeping a bag of precut lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and light dressing at the office to whip up a quick salad for lunch every day.

Losing weight and getting in shape can be done with limited time and energy. The trick is to fit the diet plan in with the already chaotic lifestyle. A bit of planning and creativity can go a long way.

Everyone needs exercise- even moms!

Everyone needs exercise, and most recommendations encourage exercise three to five days a week. Even if a family bike ride and pilates tape fits in on the weekends, exercise shouldn’t take away from family time. Try a family walk in the evenings after dinner or push the little ones in a stroller for an extra work out.

By the end of the day some moms are too weary to even consider exercise. These moms might try using the lunch break at work to sneak away to the gym or starting the day an hour earlier to get in a brisk morning walk or jog. Even two fifteen minute breaks to climb the stairs at the office can help burn necessary calories and offer an energy boost.

A working mother diet

A working moms diet must take into consideration the need for extra energy and the lack of time to exercise. These moms need a plan that fits into their busy lives.
If a working mother needs to lose weight, she may have a hard time doing so, even if she knows the basics – eat less and exercise more. Time and energy often work against her. The working mom already spends time away from her family and isn’t interested in taking away an extra hour every day to visit the gym. The workplace may encourage large meals out or a quick something cooked in the microwave or grabbed through a drive-thru.

Very intersting article. I should try that!

Home Service by:Maureen Fleury

The other day I was reading the newspaper and a stay at home mom wrote to Dear Abby about a service she has started to offer other mothers. This mom had quit work when she started her family and found her niche by accident. By being at home, she found that friends and neighbours started asking her to do favors, such as watching the kids for an hour, driving kids to team practice or dancing lessons or running errands. She did this for a while and then realized that it was beginning to take up a good part of her day. In addition, many of the mothers couldn't reciprocate because they didn't have cars or they were working. Figuring her time and gas were worth something, she started to charge a fee for her services.
A person like this may be just what we need. After reading the newspaper, I started to think of the things a home service like this could do to help working mothers.
You may need someone to drive your children to activities such as Scouts, hobby clubs, swimming lessons, birthday parties, music lessons, church groups, dance lessons, sports games and practices. Some of these activities could be happening when you and your spouse are at work. There's also the chance you have two activities in one evening and it's impossible to be at two places at the same time.
If you have to attend a function after work and you may need a sitter until you or your spouse arrives home. Most daycares have a closing time and you are unable to be there to pick up your child.
You may require someone to pick up the mail and newspapers while you are on vacation. If you have pets, they will need tending. Same with having your plants watered or lawn mowed.
Suppose you havc planned to have your hair cut or have a dental appointment on your day off. It would be nice to have these things done without bringing young children with you. A home service could babysit while you go do these things alone. Even to do some shopping for their birthdays or Christmas, you really don't want them with you. It would spoil the surprise.
Maybe you have purchased furniture or appliances and the delivery can only be done on the days you are at work. A home service could be given a key to your house in order to let in the delivery people. If the delivery is for a small item, you could arrange to have it dropped off at the home of the person doing the home service.
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"OK, books away, it's dinner time," Barrie Silberberg told her two children as they settled down at the table in Silberberg's California town house.
Annsley Rubino, 8, read a few more lines, then put her "1001 Cool Jokes" book down on the chair beside her.

Silberberg placed a steaming dish of garlic curry chicken in the middle of the table next to a cluster of artichokes. She then sat, placed a napkin on her lap and asked her son about his school day.
"We watched 'Finding Nemo' in fourth period," answered Noah Rubino, 11.
"There's a Nancy Drew movie coming out!" volunteered Annsley, munching on an artichoke leaf.
Moments like these are the reason Silberberg insists on being a stay-at-home mom, although it's difficult for a divorced mom.

"It was so vitally important, I was willing to do anything legal to make it work," Silberberg, 46, said. "I am so against day care. Parents need to be raising their children, not a bunch of strangers."
Other moms, such as Linda Baker, 48, believe day care gets a bad rap. Baker and her husband chose to put their three daughters in day care from age 2 until kindergarten so that both parents could work. Baker is vice president of a medical management company. Their oldest daughter is now 17 and her twin sisters are 13.

"We outgrew the house, and to get into something larger meant we would both have to work," Baker said. "The other piece is I like to work. I enjoy having my brain challenged."
That question, to day care or not to day care -- often called the "Mommy Wars" -- continues on the home front.

Whenever it settles into an uneasy truce, more studies and statistics emerge to fan the flames. A study by the National Institutes of Health released in March suggests kids put in day care early in their lives may have more behavior problems later in school.

In April, author Leslie Bennetts' book, "The Feminine Mistake," hit the shelves, pregnant with evidence suggesting that mothers who stay at home are putting both themselves and their children at financial risk.
"Marriage is an economic partnership, but women assume almost all of the economic risk," Bennetts wrote. "If they get divorced 20 years later, the man walks out the door with the family's major asset, which is his career."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 5.6 million mothers stayed home with their children in 2005, a number that remained steady in 2006. That compares with 1.2 million stay-at-home moms more than a decade ago.

The number of working mothers in America rose for 22 straight years, hitting an all-time high in 1998 with 59 percent of American mothers with infants (under age 1) choosing careers outside the home. That number dropped to 55 percent in 2004, marking the first decline in working mothers with infants since the Census Bureau began recording the information in 1976.
"If a growing proportion of American women is opting out of the labor force, increasing numbers of American women apparently believe that depending on a husband for support remains a viable long-term way of life," Bennetts wrote in her book. "Given the economic, social and actuarial realities of 21st century America, this alone is a stunning fact, albeit one whose significance is almost universally ignored."

Bennetts said she doesn't want to tell moms what to do, she simply wants them to make choices armed with knowledge of the realities of the 21st century, such as widowhood, longer life spans, disappearing pensions, a shaky job market and changing divorce laws.
"Women were making this choice on whether to drop out of the labor force and stay home based on grossly inadequate information and grossly misleading information," said Bennetts, who is a 57-year-old working mother of two who has been married more than 20 years.
Many stay-at-home moms entered angry reviews of the book on Web sites such as Amazon.com.

"She comes off as elitist, condescending, insulting, and ignorant of stay-at-home women in general," was an example of one angry review.
An NIH study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill psychology professor Margaret Burchinal showed that children who had been in day care before kindergarten were more likely to have behavior problems by the time they reached the sixth grade.
Working mom Baker said she has nothing but respect for stay-at-home moms but believes she is a better mom when she is keeping her mind vital by working. And her daughters seem to be fine, she said.

Bury your guilt!

Feeling guilty because you let your kids eat junk food for dinner? Because your TV is the babysitter tonight? Because your business meeting is cutting into family time? Let the guilt go! Post your guilty little secret in the Guilt Graveyard - and bury it for good. Then...relax!

Bury your guilt! >>>

source-ivillage.com

Try this, it's about time!

If all you have in your closet are sensible flats, sneakers and boots, it's time to indulge in a pair of "shoes," girlfriend. Not shoes you can wear to the office, the playground or playgroup, but the kind of shoes that say, "Take me out, and show me off!" Head turning shoes. Naughty-girl shoes. Dancing shoes. Strut your stuff shoes. And if you only wear them once a year, that's okay too.

Try this for a change!

I know, I know -- high heels can be hard to walk in (especially when you're carrying a giant diaper bag and, um, another human being), are impractical, can lead to foot pain and back pain and yadda yadda yadda... But c'mon, they look fabulous, and they make your legs look gorgeous.

Get a pet!

Do you ever crave another bundle of joy, but the thought of cleaning up after yet another member of the family makes it seem more like a bundle of a burden? Often, introducing a pet to the household keeps those motherly cravings in check, but if training a dog or cleaning up cat hair isn't exactly for you either, take a noncommittal visit to the pet store. Without fail, pet stores always have front displays of their teensiest miniature terriers, yapping dachshunds and fuzzy tabbies that will keep your attention for hours on end. Then, have a pet store play date by spending some one-on-one time with one lucky furball. At most stores, you can share a room with your would-be pet along with piles of toys and treats for 20 minutes or so. Just leave the cleaning, training and disciplining to someone else: You're there to play. Plus, the animals spend most of their days pent up in cages, so you'll be an indulgence for them as well!

source-ivillage.com

Indulge yourself

If you've ever said, "I can't remember life before [insert name of child/children]," slowly step away from the computer, change out of that "World's Greatest Mom" sweater and get to a newsstand. Today, you will go back to the days when you weren't a mother, and the time machine that will take you there is (drum roll, please) a teen magazine. As frivolous as it sounds, there's nothing you need more than a refresher in all those rites of passage you met as a girl. From stories about first crushes to embarrassing tales about getting your first period in front of said crushes, you'll be surprised how much fun those awkward stages actually were. Better yet, this can be the perfect teen tutorial. Most of these mags unveil the newest trends in music, technology and fashion. You don't have to listen to that new Justin Timberlake song or anything, but knowing about it will at least help you keep up with the Joneses' kids.
-ivillage.com

Admit it, you can't wait to try this!

'Admit it: Sometimes you just want a drink. Reward yourself tonight -- or right now! -- with a custom-made cocktail. If you don't have any fail-proof recipes of your own, use our Recipe Finder to locate every drink in the book, from a Japanese slipper to cranberry cocktails. Playing Drink Doctor can even be a great change of pace for an after-dinner treat or a just-put-the-kids-to-bed nightcap. And at your next soiree, set up a make-your-own margarita bar and go to town. Kidtender by day, bartender by night!'
-ivillage.com
Indulge yourself

Try this tomorrow!

Remember those '50s housewives who were displayed as the symbol of "family values" across America? The June Cleavers and Donna Reeds of the world all feather-dusted the living room, kept the pot roast cooking and had a martini waiting for their hardworking hubbies. Even if you wear the pants, we've got a feeling your husband or significant other isn't donning an apron. How about enlisting him for some friendly role-play where you are the one waited on hand and foot? Well before the Freaky Friday-esque day begins, talk to your partner about the switch and what you'd love for him to do just this once. When you wake up, get ready and get out of the house for the day -- even if you don't work outside the home. Leave whatever chores you normally do for your partner. When it's quitting time, come home to your old ball and chain to find your favorite whipped-from-scratch (or from-the-box... we'll let him slide on that one) meal waiting for you.

Indulge yourself

If you're still wondering if Ross and Rachel ever got together, you've got a serious case of TVD: television deficiency. Sure, there's something to be said for some boob tube detox, but we have a feeling you're too up to date on SpongeBob and friends to be aware of programs that are targeted closer to your own age group. So take some time to watch your TV favorites. Hit the local video store and grab a full season of a series. Whether it's a show you love (The Office), a show you miss (Seinfeld) or a show you've been dying to watch (Nip/Tuck, Gilmore Girls, Lost... okay, there's a lot here you've been missing), you can play catch-up and finally have a clue what all that water-cooler chatter's been about. And what's better than commercial-free TV, especially when any cliffhangers can be solved by simply clicking over to the next episode? If you watch just one or two episodes a day, you'll be done in a few weeks tops.

Play!

Don't you hate when people assume that once you become a mom your mind is nothing more than a storage space for Wiggles lyrics? Well, if you want to prove them wrong, remember that the pen is mightier than the sword. Fight back against the simple-minded-mom stereotype with a crossword puzzle. Scientists around the world advocate these puzzles as a way of exercising the mind and extending the average life span. Doing crosswords is also recommended for those wanting to protect themselves from memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. Even the surgeon general encourages the age-old brain booster for all ages, so get the kids a crossword of their own and play together. See how far you can get without using any outside resources. Then do some sleuthing to fill in the tough terms. After finishing, you can astound your naysayers with sparkling wit and gasp-inducing puns.

Get a massage

We spend so much time pushing our bodies that we forget about flexing our muscles in ways other than lifting the stroller out of the trunk seven times a day. No, we're not telling you to "just relax" for the umpteenth time. Nor are we signing you up for the next yoga class at your local gym -- though that's not a bad idea (cough, cough). This time, we're making you get a massage. A deep-tissue or full-body fixer-upper can cost you a well-rubbed arm and a leg, so do some research on what exactly you want and need in terms of general massage techniques, such as Swedish or Rolfing, before you go. If you're up for a little DIY action, click through some user-friendly tutorials on fast fixes for built-up tension and stress. Then when your partner comes home, bargain for a massage trade-off where you each give each other a back rub.

Managing chores in a large family

Managing the household of a large blended family can be a challenge. Sharing household responsibilities by assigning age appropriate tasks is both helpful and unifying.

When you have a large family, work must be shared when running the home. No single person can or should be responsible for all of the household chores. This includes stay at home parents, you are the only people who have a job 24/7, and you need and deserve help. Chores should be divided equally among the members of the household according to ability. In addition to being helpful working as a team to keep the house in order helps promote unity and personal pride.
As much as your children may object to contributing to the upkeep and general maintenance of the home, doing so builds a sense of community. Working together to the same end promotes a sense of responsibility to one another. It also helps build a feeling of “home” for any family members that are joining an already established household.
No matter how carefully you try to divide chores you will undoubtedly find that your planning will be thought “unfair” by some of your family members. There are ways to help curb this feeling by rotating chores according to ability. Keeping chore charts or chore cards can help keep things organized.
A chart is a simple way of keeping track of who is supposed to be doing what. Simply list the chores that are to be done and the person who is supposed to attend to those chores. As work is completed it is checked off. Chore cards are a little more detailed in nature and can help ensure tasks are done to your satisfaction. Using 3x5 cards list the chore and any special instructions. For example, a card stating “Dishes” may include wiping down the counter and sweeping the floor after a meal. For children who are not yet reading you can paste pictures of the chores onto a card. An example of this could be a picture of a wastebasket that represents trash duties.
Keep in mind that some children have not yet participated in household chores. They will need careful and patient training on tasks you expect them to work on. Don’t be concerned about a job being done to perfection. Learning to do housework well, like anything else, takes practice. Rotate age appropriate tasks regularly and don’t forget to include outdoor chores such as weeding, washing cars, mowing lawns and pool care.
Whether or not to pay allowance to your children is an individual family decision. Some families choose to offer monetary compensation in exchange for children doing chores. Other families believe that contributing to the household duties is part of being a family and no such compensation is offered. Whichever model your family follows, you are not alone, but in good company! Cynthia Peterson