Stay at home moms: ways to earn money

When a baby is born, her parents want nothing more than to make sure she has everything she will ever need. Before a baby is born, many expectant mothers strongly feel they will want to continue with their careers once their maternity leave is over. Some expectant mothers, on the other hand, want nothing more than to stay home with their children for a few years, but find they will be financially unable to do so. It is a tremendous understatement to say that when a child is finally born, situations change. Some mothers who were convinced they would continue to work once the baby was born may take one look at their new baby’s face and wonder what they were thinking. Mothers who may have wanted to stay home but couldn’t for financial reasons will work and rework their family budgets to see if staying at home is remotely possible. It is safe to say that staying at home with a new baby depends on one factor: money. Will the family survive on only one income? Short of winning the lottery, many couples feel that staying at home is an impossibility. But with a little creative thinking and a call on some skills and talents, you may find your wish for staying at home a possibility.

Maybe you have a secret talent or skill that many people do not know about? Perhaps you know French and Italian or can play the piano or cello? Utilize these unused talents and help others. Put ads in your local newspaper marketing French language lessons or piano lessons. Depending on the demand, you can work as little or as much as you want and in the convenience of your own home. Lessons like these usually only last a half hour or hour, so you can make sure that you have put your baby down for a nap during this time. Also, if you do happen to know another language, you can look online for opportunities to translate papers or web sites.

Do people beg you to bring your famous homemade cookies or cakes to potlucks and events? Turn this baking into a lucrative opportunity. Put up fliers in your community or host an open house where you bake some of your goods and allow neighbors and friends to taste your wares. You can print up some order sheets and bake for special events or holidays. Maybe you love messing with crafts. Check your local newspaper for local fairs and crafts shows and rent a table. People may love your Christmas decorations or woodworking projects and order more. In short, make your name known by putting yourself out there.

If you live in a community where several neighbors or friends have babies the same age as yours, maybe you can open up your own mini daycare. Let friends and neighbors know that you will be staying home with your own child and offer to take care of their children, as well. You can charge a monthly or weekly fee that is less expensive than the day care their child currently goes to. Be sure to only take on as many kids as you feel you will be able to handle, and get the appropriate CPR training and local licenses you need.

Perhaps you whizzed by math or physics while in college? You could offer tutoring services to local universities or community colleges. Print an advertisement in local community newspapers and local college newspapers and print out fliers to hang around the college or university itself offering tutoring in certain subjects. Bear in mind that most college students do not have or make a lot of money, so you will want to keep your costs down.

Is your house so clean you can eat off the floor? Why not offer basic cleaning services for friends or neighbors. There are certain house duties that many people find annoying or time-consuming like mopping, vacuuming or cleaning the restrooms. Print out a list of services you will provide and the prices you charge. Or if you don’t mind mowing lawns, you can also offer this service as well.

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The truth about "work at home" ads

Work at Home!! Earn $2500 weekly!! The ads are everywhere. On the Internet, in the backs of magazines, even nailed to trees. It’s easy to see how one can be tempted into answering these ads. To work at home and earn that kind of cash? It doesn’t get much better than that. Or does it? Before you visit a work-from-home website, or even worse, part with any hard-earned cash, be sure to do your research. When it comes to “working at home,” what you don’t know can hurt you.

Most of the advertisements offering work at home jobs or business opportunities are geared towards the stay-at-home-Mom. Knowing that the most important thing to many mothers is to be able to stay home with their children instead of returning to the office, these unscrupulous advertisers prey on mothers’ vulnerabilities. After all, what new Mom would turn down an offer of secretarial work from the comfort of her own kitchen to return back to a stressful job in a noisy office?

The most important thing to remember when searching for any kind of job is that you should never pay money to apply to work for someone else. Employers pay you; it’s not the other way around. A business opportunity, on the other hand, is a whole other story. In most cases, having your own business will require an investment on your part; you just have to be sure to avoid scams and get-rich-quick schemes.

How does one find a work-at-home job or a business opportunity? It’s not easy. Many Internet job boards will claim to specialize in listing work-at-home jobs and opportunities, but, in many cases, they list advertisements, not actual jobs. When it comes to job boards, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The first is to avoid job boards requiring a subscription fee. Most times, these boards carry the same information found on free sites. The other is to never pay for a listing of major corporations who hire telecommuters. These can be found for free all over the Internet. Remember, a potential employer, especially someone from a well-known company, will want to hire the best candidate for the job and will either advertise in a major newspaper or a major Internet job board. They won’t advertise on a job board catering to only a few select people who are willing to pay for information most other people can find by typing a few key words into a search engine. Also, in order to work at home for one of these businesses, you’d probably have to work on site for months, even years, in order to prove yourself. The truth is, most work-at-home job boards list very low paying jobs or are advertisements for scams that encourage you to part with your hard-earned cash.

Let’s explore some of the popular “jobs” found on these work-at-home sites:

Reading Email - The ads claim you can earn hundreds of dollars and more each week by reading email. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In reality, you’re signing up to receive advertisements sent to your email address. Every time you read one of the ads, you get a penny or two (and sometimes less) added to your account. Since you’ll receive only a few advertisements a day, it takes quite a while for anyone to earn a substantial amount of money. You can also earn money by referring others to the program, but again, this is nothing one would call employment, and it’s certainly not something you should quit your day job to do.

Envelope Stuffing – Most businesses have machines or mail staff to handle this type of work; they won’t pay an outside individual. Here’s how it works. Once you pay the fee, you’ll be sent a directory of businesses you can contact to see if they’ll let you handle their envelope stuffing. In just about every case, the answer will be no.

Online Surveys – Can you really earn thousands or even hundreds of dollars just by answering consumer surveys? Not hardly. That’s not to say you won’t make anything, but you won’t retire on your earnings, that’s for sure. Consumer survey sites offer cash and incentives for filling out surveys regarding groceries, movies, cars and politics, just to name a few. In many cases, you’ll earn points. After saving up enough points you can choose a reward. Depending on how many points you saved, you can choose anything from a mouse pad to a DVD player. You’ll have to answer a lot of surveys for the higher-end products. Some companies also offer cash incentives; these are usually only a few dollars. There are even companies that will add your name to a drawing to win cash if your name is chosen. Since the odds of winning are not in your favor, the chance of you getting any type of compensation in exchange for your time is nil. Be wary about responding to any advertisement saying you can earn thousands of dollars by answering surveys. This is just not the truth. Also, never pay money for a list of survey sites. These are easily obtained doing a simple Internet search for free.

Name Compiler / Data Entry – The ad states you will be typing up names and addresses onto lists that will, in turn, be sold to advertisers. In reality, advertisers don’t need your lists; they have their own, as well as their own data entry programs. Once you pay your fee, all you will be provided with are instructions on how to scam others in the same manner.

Craft Assembly – After paying a fee, you will be sent parts for a product or toy that needs to be assembled. After it’s sent in, you’ll either be paid, or you’ll be told the assembly wasn’t up to their high standards and not get paid anything at all. In any event, you won’t recoup your initial investment.

Transcription Work – Be on your guard when responding to advertisements soliciting transcriptionists, especially those that say no experience is required. In many cases, these advertisements aren’t from employers looking for workers. They’re from businesses looking to sell software so you can train for transcription work. Once you’re “trained,” you’re on your own, however, as there are no job placements or even job listings on these sites. In fact, many of the companies hiring transcriptionists will either look for someone who has experience or go to a reputable firm. They won’t hire someone who responded to an ad on the Internet and bought some software.

Below are some clues to spotting common work-at-home scams:

1. The “employer” is looking for money. Remember, you never have to pay a “sign-up fee” to work for someone.

2. The ad states no experience is necessary. How many jobs have you applied for that are looking for someone with no experience? Not many, right?

3. Does it sound too good to be true? It probably is. Do you really think you can earn $2500 each week answering emails or typing ads? No one can expect to do very little work and earn that much money unless they’re doing something illegal.

4. Many scam sites don’t accept credit cards. Credit cards charges can easily be reversed. Never sign up for any program you pay for with your credit card. Whatever you do, always get a 30-day guarantee in writing.

5. Advertisements are in all caps with lots of exclamation points. WORK AT HOME!!!! EARN $$$!!!! Most legitimate businesses prefer a more understated approach and won’t try to sucker you in with an overabundance of symbols.

6. There is no contact information. Any potential employer will list a phone number and street address. If this information is vague or non-existent, you would be well advised to stay away.

Let’s face it. Even though many of us would like to stay at home and work in our pajamas, this isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s not impossible though. You can try to persuade your present place of employment to let you work out of your home. If this isn’t possible, you can work as an independent contractor or freelancer in your area of expertise. You can also try your hand at a home-based business. There are many party plans and sales opportunities for those who have a knack for selling.

When responding to any work-at-home advertisement, proceed with caution. Do as much research about the organization as possible and ask as many questions as necessary. Don’t worry about sounding like a pest. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints made and post queries on online message boards specializing in stay-at home-opportunities. Many of these communities are well-versed in online scams and can help to guide you.

Don’t be swayed by advertisements filled with dollar signs and exclamation points. Use your best judgment. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

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Family and parenting: are preteen modeling jobs a good idea?

Deciding on whether or not to allow your preteen to pursue a career in modeling really depends on you. Guiding your child through the ins and outs of the modeling world requires a great deal of time, patience and money on the part of parents or guardians. You must be available for last minute calls, traveling expenses, and huge blocks of time while your youngster is being tested, photographed, rehearsed and/or made-over. You must be prepared to comfort the rejected child, trim the ego of the overly cocky or weather the tantrums of the tired and cranky.

Your child will most likely need to sign with an agency or service. You must do your homework and research these businesses for legitimacy and suitability. Always be wary if you are asked for money up front. Check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure there aren’t serious complaints or law suits filed against these companies. There are scam artists aplenty out there. The number of lawsuits citing fraudulent practices and unfulfilled promises is staggering. Be informed! There is a Modeling Industry Code of Ethics outlining standards of fairness and honesty. An agency should not guarantee a model employment or should not pressure models to sign a contract.

Familiarity with this code can help you find the right agency. Also, a list of reputable agencies can be found through the Association of Model Agents.

Keeping your child safe should always be your first consideration. Unfortunately, there are many predators out there willing to take advantage of the naïve and vulnerable.

There is no substitute for supervision! Your vigilant presence will discourage many of the ill-meaning, but remember…you will not be allowed through every door your charge goes through. Impress upon your child the importance of not letting anyone touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable.

You may be told that your child needs to have his or her portfolio available online. There are pretty substantial charges for these services ranging from something like $150 to $300 for 6 months depending on whether or not you want the photos retouched. Your child will need appropriate outfits, hairstyling and the afore-mentioned traveling expenses, so have that checkbook ready.

Lastly, is your child suited for this career? Professionals are looking for children with the right look, personality and presence. This can be a tough business and a lot of money is on the line. People don’t have the luxury of always being kind and considerate of the child’s feelings or yours. Photographers and directors don’t want to waste time and resources coaxing the frightened child out from behind the mother’s back. If your child is overly sensitive or shy and has to be pushed to participate in auditions, interviews or shoots, it may be best to wait awhile until the child matures a little.

Modeling can be a great way to use a child’s God-given attributes to generate confidence and income for college and the entire family, but it is more important that the child have a balance between school, homework, play and a career at such a young age. Your child is your most precious possession. Make sure your dream for your child is what is best for your child. Consider carefully and if you do decide to let them pursue a career in modeling . . . bring a comfortable pair of shoes and the patience of Job.

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Being a stay at home mom

Whenever I happen to bump into someone, especially someone I haven’t seen in a while the one question that’s always asked is, “So, what do you do for a living?” It’s inevitable.

For the first year after I made the choice to stay at home with my two young children I would respond to this question by stating, “I’m a mom.” But, after twelve months of hearing, “oh, that must be so nice” or “aren’t you lucky” and the best of all, “I would love not to work” I started resenting those comments.

Yes, it is nice. As a matter of fact it’s wonderful to be home with my children and I do consider myself extremely lucky. But this luck does not come without sacrifice and hard work. I too have a “daily grind”. I work hours that extend well past the typical nine to five and I don’t get personal time off or sick days. My work follows me even when I’m on vacation. I’m on call twenty-four hours a day.

And, perhaps most difficult in this day and age, is raising and supporting a family with only one income. This is where the sacrifices come into play. Before I made the decision to stay home with our children we would go out to eat or go to the movies. If we saw something we liked (within reason) we would buy it. Those days are over. With only one income it is difficult to be able to afford a babysitter for an evening, let alone spend a night out. There have been times and instances when I have felt as though I had no life, no outlet and certainly, no privacy.

So, why do I do it? Well, that's easy. The rewards heavily outweigh the sacrifices. It is difficult to put into words how wonderful and special it is to be with my children and have them with me. They are being raised as I see fit. They are being taught the morals and values that I want them to learn. We have a wonderful bond, a relationship that we never could have achieved if I was working out of the home. I was there when they took their first steps and said their first words. I nursed their first cuts and scrapes and shared in their joy of their first accomplishments.

It took a long time for me to figure it out, but yes, I do have a job. Even though I do not leave my home to work I am a success. I’m a professional chef, seamstress, engineer, inventor, nurse, teacher and God willing an author, just to name a few.

My only regret is that it took me this long to discover that I have accomplished a great deal, that what I do has much purpose and has improved myself, my family and our environment more than words can say. I am a professional, in every sense of the word.

If you happen to be someone who has opted to or is thinking about making the move to become a stay at home mom you need to remember your importance in the general scheme of things. Your children love you, need you and want you, even though it may not always appear that way. You play a vitally important role in others' lives and what you do sets the example for your children's lives as well. There is no other job in the world that has the supreme influence and impact on another's life as mothering does. Never forget who you are and how important your role is.

So remember, if you are a stay at home mom and someone asks you what you do for a living you respond, “I am very lucky to have the best job in the world. I do a little bit of everything. I put in long hours but the pay is great!” and leave it at that.

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Vacation tips for mom

Have you ever dreamed of taking a vacation just for yourself? No kids, no husband, no dog? Then you thought of all the reasons you couldn’t, such as money, children or time away from your job? Well throw that kind of thinking right out the door. You can take a vacation just for yourself. You can afford to and you deserve to have some time away.

Two years ago I decided it was time for me to take a personal vacation. I, like most mothers, work forty hours a week at a job, I care for my children, keep a clean house and keep everyone well fed and reasonably happy. So, where in all that would I find time for me? I learned that in order to find time for me I had to make time for me. I needed a vacation and I needed one with out my family. Any mother knows that a family vacation is a vacation for the children and the husband, you as a mother still end up working. Granted it’s not at your workplace but it’s still work. You still have to care for the children, you still have to cook, to do dishes and keep everyone happy. It ends up your more tired from vacation that you would have been had you worked at your job all week. You need to go back to work to rest.

Do I feel selfish, guilty for thinking this way? You bet but, I didn’t let that deter me. I deserve my time. I began planning my vacation after calling a few close friends and telling them my idea. They all excitedly told me that if I could find something cheap enough they would be more than happy to join me.

My first step was to call the local travel agents in my area. Bad idea! They gave me some wonderful vacation packages but all had huge price tags attached. I wanted a small vacation and didn’t want to have to sell my first born to afford it.

Second step, I began looking through the telephone book and calling resorts and hotels in the area I planned on vacationing at. What I found was informative as well as reasonable.

1. If you plan a vacation in off season (non-peak times) the rates are reduced by nearly half the original cost for a suite/room/cabin.

2. Most resorts/hotels have rooms that sleep up to six people, have small kitchenettes and two baths for one flat price. Split this price with several friends and the savings are incredible. What normally you couldn’t afford you now find you can easily afford.

My plan was to arrange a four day mini-vacation for under three hundred dollars. I searched the area I was interested in going to. I had certain criteria that had to be met. I wanted to spend only three hundred dollars for the entire long weekend. I wanted a resort with an indoor swimming pool, a sauna and a gym. I wanted a location not more that five hours drive from where I lived. I wanted an area with plenty of attractions. After several phone calls I decided on a beautiful resort located near the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I chose the small town of North Conway. The town offered many attractions such as outlet malls, quaint little shops; hiking, biking and walking trails all nestled at the base of the beautiful snowcapped White Mountain Range. I chose off peak time, early spring and got the best rates for lodging. The resort my friends and I stayed at offered all the amenities, swimming pool, sauna, gym and several shops and restaurants on the premise. The entire weekend cost me under my set goal of three hundred dollars and that included some shopping and all meals. We, my friends and I, had such a great time that each year in the spring they now look forward to our annual mini-vacation. This year I think we’ll try the coast. I hear it’s beautiful in the spring.

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Biography of saint augustine

Augustine was born in Tagaste (modern day Souk Ahras, Algeria) in 354. This land was under the rule of Rome since Carthage was conquered almost five hundred years before his birth. Tagaste was a small town without a college or university. His parents were Patricius and Monica, and belonged to the middle class. This meant that they were wealthy enough to hope to sent Augustine to get an education, but too poor to be able to afford the expenditure on their own. His mother was Christian, however, his father believed in the Roman gods. He accepted baptism only on his deathbed.

His childhood is somewhat of a mystery. All that anyone knows is what he wrote down in his memoirs. He depicts himself as an ordinary child that was smart, rational, and prone to jealousy. He was a child that held the respect of his elders very carefully. He studied and became fluent in Latin. His family, with the help of a wealthy family friend, scrapped together enough money to send him to the university in Madaura. At the age of seventeen Augustine moved Carthage and began to study. Carthage was the Rome of Northern Africa. It was an economic, cultural, and political center of Northern Africa. Shortly after Augustine’s transfer to Carthage, his father died.

Once in Carthage and done with his father’s funeral, Augustine moved in with a young woman, by whom a son would soon be born. Though he lives with this mysterious woman for the span of ten years, there is no mention of her name in his memoirs. He only wrote that when he had to give up this woman’s love for a political marriage in Milan “his heart ran blood”. His son, Adeodatus, stayed with his father until he died when he was fourteen or fifteen.

While Augustine was studying in Carthage, he discovered the works of Cicero. A work called Hortensius inspired Augustine to study philosophy. This would be his primary love until he converted to Christianity. This love of philosophy inspired him to join Manicheism, a rival religious cult to Christianity. Augustine soon became disappointed with the groups vague system of beliefs. However, though he separated himself from the sect privately, publicly he remained a supporter until 384, more than a decade after he joined the religious sect. At the age of twenty-one, after four years of study in Carthage, Augustine returned home to teach. This only lasted for a short while, as a year later he was again living in Carthage.

From this point onward, Augustine’s career explodes. Seven more years of study and philosophical discourse turned the hometown teacher into a formidable scholar and orator. In 383 or 384 Augustine moved to Rome, the center of civilization. Once there Augustine won a job as professor of rhetoric. Thus, by the age of thirty (384) Augustine had won the most visible academic position in the world. The job took him to Milan. Once he set up a stable life there, his widowed mother moved in with him. His mother talked him into giving up his mistress (the mother of Adeodatus) and marrying a presentable woman. She also began pressing the teachings of Christianity on him.

The stress of such a rapid rise in the public sphere was taking its toll on Augustine. He was tired, worn out, and perplexed by a number of questions that no one could answer for him. It was at this time that Augustine began to develop a relationship bishop Ambrose. He would listen to his sermons. Slowly Augustine, who had denounced Christianity as illogic rhetoric, began to see Christianity in a new favorable way. In 386, less than two years after moving to Milan, Augustine gave up his academic position on the grounds of ill health, and move to a villa in Cassiciacum. Here he and few friends discussed religion, philosophy, and prayer. On Easter night in 387 Ambrose baptized Augustine.

At the age of thirty-five, with his new ideas and prayer, Augustine moved back to his old home in Northern Africa. In 389 he settled in Tagaste with a few friends. There they prayed and spoke of religious things. Augustine enjoyed this part of his life very much. However, two years later he was talked into joining the priesthood. Augustine now devoted himself to the texts of scripture and became a world-renowned theologian. His first theological treatise came from this period. In it he attacks the Manichees, the religious group that he had previously been a member of. By 393 Augustine was being asked to make sermons. In 395 the bishop of Hippo died. Augustine assumed his responsibilities and became the priest of Hippo.

Augustine remained the priest of Hippo until he died thirty-four years later. While at this post, he judged over many disputes. His priestly career is a series of controversies. However, Augustine’s main focus was liturgy. Through his study of liturgy, Augustine hoped to win three distinct social battles. The first was an ecclesiastical struggle for the very life of his community. The second was the Christianization of the Roman Empire. Finally, was the theological quarrel over the essentials of faith and salvation. It was to these three questions that Augustine sought to answer in his writings and discussions.

By the year 430 Augustine had grown to be an old man. Rome had fallen in 410 to the Vandals, and they were pressing into Northern Africa where Augustine had retired. In 430 they were besieging the city of Hippo. Hippo eventually fell to the barbarians. Augustine had died a few days before the fall. Not long after the Vandals captured Carthage and established an Empire that would last for a century.

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Relationship advice: mother & child

Mom's from conception on worry about their kids, and want the best for them, and try to give them the best they can. Kids are very satisfied with attention and affection from moms: however, moms always to seem to want to do more and give more. Unconditional love and physical well being are how kids are happy and satisfied.

The physical care for children seem the easiest to figure out: shelter, clothing, medical care, rest and exercise etc. Kids are happy to have the warmth and security of the home and family. These tasks are not always as simple as it seems.

In the past it was easier for moms to stay at home with their kids and raise them: keep them close to them and watch them grow happy and strong. Nevertheless, today is so different for moms. The worry about income makes it necessary for many to have to work full-time outside the house, single parent homes have many worries and struggles. Many moms deal with weekend visits, individual attention for their kids, proper education and everyday problems that all children seem to have. Moms just need to relax and take time to spend with the kids. Laundry and dishes may have come later. However, the time you spend reading a book or visiting with your child about the day, he/she had will make the child's day and make them seem that they are very important in your life.

Many kids need to be shown love. Abstract feelings of love are hard for children to get the concept of. For the child love is easier to understand through the use of their senses. Touching, smelling, tasting, hearing and seeing. If moms take the extra efforts to show their kids they are loved, they can grow up more secure and responsible as adults. A hug, special hand made card saying I love you on it, saying I love you and letting them know they are good kids helps children realize they are loved and what love is.

Moms' unconditional love is sometimes the hardest but the most necessary to give a child. Whether a child is good or bad, well or ill, smart or has special needs the love from mom is always there. Children seem to need it the most when things are not good for them. It seems that a child may test a moms love. Some days they are the worst children they have ever been but moms love is still there, and children need to know that.

Communication with their children seems to be the bridge to a good and healthy relationship between moms and their children. The most important part of communication for moms is listening. Many times moms are in too big of a hurry to speak and less interested in listening. The way to learn is to listen. Children learn from moms as well as moms learn from children. It is not always easy for a mom to listen in a busied life nevertheless listening is sometimes the most important. Take the time to stop and listen to what your child has to say it will be a precious moment that can be turned into a precious memory.

Moms need to be consistent with children. Children learn to trust this way. A mom says something it is important to follow through with that statement. Whether it be a boundary for a child (where they can go, curfews, friends) or a special time and day set aside for them. Consistency is an everyday thing that will go on through the life of the child. They trust boundaries that are set for them and look forward to the time they get with mom. As children grow and have ideas of their own, it is important for moms to keep communicating and listening to their children. There are different needs in children as they grow and change and it is important for moms to recognize their changes and needs with an open mind and a lot of understanding. Sometimes tough love is a hard thing to for moms but a much-needed thing in children's lives.

There are some moms that are too hard on themselves by always worrying they are doing something wrong, making wrong choices and decisions. It is very true everyone, not only moms makes mistakes. Once we understand that we do not do everything right for our children, then we can be more relaxed. Children are the first to show forgiveness and understanding when something goes wrong for a mom. We learn to accept their forgiveness and can learn from the mistakes that are made. Being a mom of four children of my own and four stepchildren it is an everyday ordeal to make choices and decisions. Many decisions are made too quickly and wrongly but with communication and understanding children and moms can great relationships.

Challenges of a mom and their children are not something to worry about rather something to be accepted. As they grow and change moms change and grow too. Letting a child make their own choices, decisions, and mistakes is very hard. The hardest task for a mom is to let them grow away from you. Moms tend to hold on tighter when a child starts to drift. This is when it is important for a mom to trust in herself. The efforts and guidance that was given to her child while growing up was done right and that the road they choose will be the best they can for themselves.

It may be easiest to understand a child growing up and changing by looking at it from a different concept. You make and mold this child into something you believe will make a good adult and he/she knows the right and wrong of life and teach them to make good sound choices. However, through time this mold changes and develops into something even a mom sometimes has a hard time recognizing. Nevertheless, if a mom really looks hard they can see that the mold they started with was the base for something much more beautiful and wonderful then she could have ever expected. Her young child grows into a well-rounded adult. The biggest challenge a woman may ever have is the job of a mom, but along with the challenges comes the greatest rewards life can give a woman. The rewards of respect, honor, forgiveness, peace and above all a love that can go forever will be in your memory.

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10 hard questions to ask yourself before having children for women

Whether or not to have children, and when, is one of the biggest decisions a woman has to make. While a “gut” feeling is usually a good indicator of whether you are ready or not to become a mother, there are some serious things to consider. Following are 10 hard questions to ask yourself before having children.

Are you ready to be selfless? You become a mother the day of conception. From that day forward every decision you make not only affects you, it affects your baby. Whether it is watching what you eat, avoiding that after dinner drink or putting your career on hold, almost every decision you make is based on your baby. Decide whether you are ready to put yourself second.

Is the father ready? Whether you are married or single, the father of your baby will have an impact on you and your child’s life. Do you have a supportive partner who will support you through pregnancy, labor and life with a newborn? Will you be able to support him as his life changes? Are you having a baby on your own? What will the involvement of the biological father be? The only right answer to these questions is what feels right to you. However, don’t take lightly the role of the father and the impact of a new baby on him.

Are you financially prepared? Again, this is a question you have to answer based on what feels right to you. Some people don’t feel financially prepared for a baby until they can guarantee full payment for a Harvard education. Others feel ready if they have a crib and a high chair. Make sure that you are comfortable with your financial situation, before bringing a new baby into it.

Are you ready for things to get a little more complicated? Having a baby changes everything whether it be a trip to the grocery store or a night out with your husband. Everything becomes more complicated and involves car seats, strollers, diaper bags, babysitters and diapers. Most parents agree that the pros outweigh the cons, but it is a major lifestyle change.

Are you ready to surrender control of your body? From trying to get pregnant, to pregnancy, to labor, to breastfeeding, to weaning, your body becomes a baby laboratory. Everything you put into your body matters and changes happen that are out of your control. Be sure you’re ready to dedicate your body to your baby.

Are you willing to do the work that being a mother takes? Being a mother is one of the toughest jobs there is. You are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You are required to be a teacher, a doctor, a psychologist, a clown and a disciplinarian all in one day. Like anything, the more you put into motherhood, the more you get out of it. There are all kinds of classes and books that can prepare you to be a mother. Decide if you are ready to put extra time into being a successful mother.

Are you responsible? There is no greater responsibility than being a mother. It takes organization, patience and confidence. If you are responsible in other parts of your life, than you probably will be a responsible parent.

What are your long-term goals? Think about where you see yourself in five, ten or fifteen years. What are your goals and dreams? If you see yourself as president of your company, will a child fit into that picture? If you see yourself sitting around the dinner table with a large family, than having a child will help you reach that goal.

Is your biological clock ticking? Women can feel their biological clock ticking at any age. If you feel it ticking when you are 22, decide if it is really the right time or if you would rather accomplish other goals first. If you feel your clock ticking at 42, decide is it just because you are running out of time or have you always wanted a baby. Again, it is a personal decision that only you can make.

What will a baby add to your life? You should be able to answer this question with at least three meaningful things. Bringing a baby into your life is life-changing and should not be taken lightly.

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Advice for working mothers: cleaning when you have no time

ENLIST HELP

Even though it may feel like it sometimes, cleaning the house is not only your responsibility. Everyone that lives in the house is accountable for the state of it. Don’t take the bulk of the cleaning chores on yourself. Make everyone help you. Teach children from the time that they are young that they, too, are important members of the family and that their help is just as important to see that things run smoothly. Even children in pre-school can help by learning to put away their own toys, sorting the laundry, dusting the furniture, and fixing pillows on the sofa. Grade school aged children can learn to make beds, gather laundry from different rooms, put out fresh towels, sweep floors, rake leaves, water gardens and plants, set and clear tables, help unpack groceries, wash windows and mirrors, straighten out books and put away clutter, and take out the trash. Middle school-aged kids can mop, wash dishes, wash and fold laundry, help with younger children’s feedings and diaper changes, help prepare salads, microwave quick meals, organize books, tapes, cd’s, video games, and polish furniture. High school and college aged children can babysit siblings, run errands, wash cars, cook and serve meals, help with the more heavy-duty kitchen and bathroom cleaning and do yard work. Husbands, of course, can help with any of these things. If you and everyone else in the house is pitching in to do the cleaning chores on a daily basis, it will make it easier on everyone.

CLEAN ON THE GO

When you stop to use the bathroom, give the toilet a quick brush or give the sink a quick wipe. When you grab that cup of coffee, wipe down the kitchen counter while it's heats. Running to the laundry room for your pants? Bring a load with you on the way. When you sit down to watch the news, fold some towels or sort the children’s toys. When vacuuming the living room, grab the attachment and quickly take the dust off the ceiling fan. Taking the time to do these little chores on the run will leave any time you have left to tackle bigger projects.

PRIORITIZE

When the mess seems to be growing and overtaking the house, decide what jobs are most important to get done quickly. If you’re down to your last pair of underwear, do a load of laundry– someone can pick up the kid’s toys later. Can you use your nail to cut a trail of soap scum in the bath tub? Take care of that; no one will mind if they have to look in spotted mirrors for another day. Have you run out of cups and dishes? Get a load in the dishwasher and nuke some frozen pizzas for dinner, then serve them on paper plates. So what if you can’t make the bed today? No one has to know.

ORGANIZE

It may be an old adage, but when there is a place for everything, it makes it a lot easier to put everything in its place. Try to assign everything that is commonly used a spot that is easily accessible and always available. Take advantage of closet organizers, shelving, file folders and storage units.

One of the easiest way to keep clutter under control in a large, busy household is to keep things in plastic storage containers or baskets. Craft supplies, school supplies, office supplies, cleaning supplies, toys, sewing supplies, baby needs, bills with stamps and envelopes, tools– anything that fits in a box or basket that will need to be put away. Put shelves in closets to hold the boxes. When you need to use the items, drag out the box and dig into it for what you need. When you are done with things, simply throw them in a box and stick it back up on the shelf.

KEEP LISTS

Always have a small pad or book in your bag so that when you sit to wait for a bus, or have a few minutes at lunch, you can jot down any notes to yourself on things that need to be done or gotten. Make little notes for other people in the household if it is something they need to do and slip it to them when you see them. Some of the most troublesome and inconvenient chores that disrupt our days are the ones we forgot to get to or to tell someone about until the last minute. If you’re busy, don’t always rely on your memory. Get into the habit of writing things down, and checking your lists often.

STOP, DROP AND CLEAN

If you find 20 minutes here or a half hour there, stop everyone in the house who is not doing anything important and have a quickie-clean up time. Set a timer for 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes. For that time, the objective is for everyone to do as much as possible. Assign tasks, or send a person into each room to do what needs most to be done. After the time is up, everyone can stop and go back to what they were doing. Whatever doesn’t get done will just have to wait. You may be surprised to see just how much a family can accomplish in 20 minutes if they know they can get it over quickly and go on with their day.

RELAX

Have you ever heard of anyone on their death bed regretting that they didn’t get all the stains out of the rug, that their stainless steel appliances had smudge marks or their laundry didn’t always smell April-fresh? Sure, cleanliness has some importance, but it isn’t the only thing important in life. Try to balance all of your needs.

Don’t be hard on yourself, or your family. Life gets busy, houses get messy. Sometimes you will be able to keep up with the cleaning needs better than other times. Don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself falling behind. Just keep up your stride as best you can, and things will eventually get back on track. Don’t expect everyone to always do a perfect job– be willing to settle for “good enough.”

Don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Allow yourself time to rest and refuel. Sometimes we run on empty trying to get things done, instead of taking the time to recharge our battery so we can be more productive later.

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Biography on Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941 in New Jersey. She was the first daughter of Eddie and Martha Kostyra. She was born to a large middle class family of Polish heritage. She has a older brother, Eddie. She also has 4 other siblings.

When she was born, her family lived in an apartment in a two-family home. They bought a house in Nutley, New Jersey when Martha was three years old. It was a busy household with six kids. Martha's mother cooked and sewed clothes for the family. She saved money by making the childrens' clothing. Martha's parents believed in a strong work ethic.

Martha's mother taught her how to cook. They had large Christmas celebrations and Martha and her mother baked and decorated cookies. Martha also learned the art of canning and preserving at her grandparents' home in Buffalo, New York. She spent some summers there as a child. They taught Martha how to preserve and can vegetables and fruits. These are skills that would prove to be important in her life.

Martha's father, Eddie, was an avid gardener. He shared his gardening skills with Martha. They would work together in the yard and garden. They would plant flowers, fruit trees, and bushes of berries. Their garden grew and evolved over time. Martha learned many of her skills used today from her parents and grandparents.

Martha attended schools in Nutley, New Jersey all the way to college. She was an excellent student. Martha also loved to read. She was active in extracurricular activities as well. She was involved in the school newspaper, the Art Club and several other clubs.

As she came from a large family, her house was always bustling with visiting family and friends. They often entertained and the family would do all the preparations, such as cooking and baking. Unbeknownst to Martha, this was the beginning of her "entertaining" career.

During her high school years, Martha decided to go to New York and try to get modeling jobs. She was hired and eventually was in a TV commerical and several magazines. In addition to modeling, she was still going to high school and she continued to excel in her studies. She was an overachiever. She graduated in the top ten of her high school class and decided to attend Barnard College in New York City.

While attending college, she continued to model. Her majors were history and architectural history. She met her husband, Andy Stewart, while she was attending Barnard College.

Martha wed Andy Stewart in 1961. Martha and her mother made her wedding dress. They lived in an apartment in New York City. It needed work, so Andy and Martha renovated and decorated it together. This was Martha's first real introduction into home decor. In 1965, their only child, Alexis, was born.

After Alexis was born, they decided they should live in a house and make a home for their little family. They bought a one room schoolhouse and renovated it from top to bottom by themselves. They enjoyed the work and the challenges it presented.

For a short time after her modelling career slowed, Martha went to work as a stockbroker. It was during this period in her life that she learned how businesses operate. Again, she was successful and this experience would prove invaluable.

Their next home was in Westport, Connecticut. This is the now famous home on Turkey Hill Road. Well experienced with home renovation, they took this project on with pleasure. Restoring and decorating soon became apparent to Martha that these were her true passions. Andy and Martha landscaped with fruit trees, berry bushes of all varieties, and many vegetable and flower gardens, just like Martha did when she was growing up. They painted the interior and the exterior of the house, too.

During this renovation, Martha decided to try her hand at catering. She always liked entertaining and thought this might be the perfect business for her. She started simply by placing a catering ad in a small local paper and the jobs started coming. Her first official catering job was a wedding. Her business grew as did the publicity for the functions she catered. Martha catered a party for Andy's publishing firm and met many editors and important people. It was during this party that she was offered the opportunity to publish a book on catering.

That book became "Entertaining" and was published in 1982. It was a bestseller and continues to sell today. She also published two cookbooks as a followup. She started to appear on television and she even hosted her own Thnaksgiving special on public televison. People either loved her or hated her. She fast became known as a lifestyle expert.

She eventually became the spokesperson for K-Mart. She wrote more books. She was becoming a wealthy "homemaking" expert. It was during this successful business time her marriage started to suffer. Martha and Andy divorced in 1990. She continued to work hard. She renovated and decorated another house.

She had another goal. She wanted to publish a magazine very much like her books. A magazine that would show women how to entertain and decorate, cook and bake, garden and craft. In 1990, her dream became a reality. "Martha Stewart Living" made its debut. Women across the country loved it. Martha appeared on the "Today" show and was offered the chance to host her own show. Martha's television show consists of everything within the pages of her magazine. She was named one of " America's Most Influential People of 1996.

Martha wanted control of her projects, so in 1997 she created "Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia". Omnimedia encompasses all the various mediums where her ideas and projects can be found. She's on the radio, TV, in print, has a Martha By Mail catalogue, and is even online at Martha Stewart.com.

She has a neverending supply of ideas and energy and will continue to influence women all over the world. Martha Stewart is living the American dream. Born to a middle class family and now rich and successful.

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Advice for working mothers: keeping appointments without falling behind

As any working mother already knows, juggling a career and family can be quite a challenge. Aside from the obvious quality time that a mother spends with her child, parenthood comes with innumerable additional responsibilities including taking children to appointments and attending school functions.

As a working mother, you may find that your children’s activities cut into your workday. In addition, you may be having a hard time scheduling your own appointments around your work schedule -- after all, you can only take so much time off from your job. So what’s the best way to handle this problem? Here are some tips to help you make your appointments without compromising your workload:

-- Organize. Use your computer or a calendar to keep a running list of the yearly appointments you need to make for your family. Include annual physicals, appointments for vaccines, dental checkups, eye exams and visits to your gynecologist. By knowing ahead of time when these checkups are due, you won’t be hit with an unexpected reminder card and you can plan accordingly.

-- Try to find doctors and dentists that offer evening and weekend hours. Many practices recognize the need for flexible scheduling and offer evening and Saturday hours. If you find such a practice, try to schedule appointments for after work hours. Keep in mind, however, that evening and weekend hours usually fill up very quickly so you will need to schedule these appointments well ahead of time.

-- Find a doctor near your office. If you’re lucky enough to have appointments that are near your workplace, try to schedule them during your working hours and go to the appointment in lieu of your lunch break.

-- Try to schedule appointments for first thing in the morning. If you or your child is the first patient of the morning, your doctor won’t be behind schedule and you can get in and out much more quickly.

-- Schedule several appointments for the same day. Try to take one full day off from work to take care of annual visits and physicals. Schedule them for a day that your kids have off from school so you can take them to their appointments as well. After your appointments, schedule any follow up visits right then and there. This will save you from having to call-- and be put on hold by a busy reception desk-- later.

-- Do what you can the night before. Pack lunches, sign permission slips, and fill out medical paperwork ahead of time. This will give you less things to do on the morning of your appointment.

-- Leave a message on your company voicemail stating the hours that you will be away from your desk. Nothing is worse than being away from the office for a few hours, only to come back to a slew of voicemail messages. By stating the times that you will be away, you may discourage people from leaving messages, as they will know what time they can call you back.

-- Catch up at work by checking voicemail and e-mail from home. If you leave work early or take the entire day off, do some work from home by keeping up with your voicemail and e-mail. By listening to your voicemail messages and checking e-mail ahead of time, you will know what to expect when you go in the next day and you may even be able to respond back to the messages from home.

--Go in early or stay late the next day. If your workload is heavy, try to get up an hour earlier or stay late the next work day. You will be amazed at how much you can get done when the office is quiet.

--Ask for help! Finally, don’t attempt to be Superwoman and do it all. If juggling your home and work schedules prove to be too difficult, ask your spouse or a family member to help you out. Let them make dinner or do the grocery shopping while you go to your appointments. Ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your kids from their after school activities or drive them to appointments that you don’t need to be at. You can always return the favor when things aren’t as hectic in your life.

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Stress management techniques for busy mothers

1. Identify the cause. Be aware of the issues that are generating stress. Do not ignore the slightest hint and try to perceive how the body reacts emotionally and physically. Accordingly, determine how you can change the surroundings to avoid, curtail or eliminate stress completely from your life. Have a control over your conduct and try to moderate the physical and emotional reactions under stressful circumstances. Medications bring short term relief of course, but control over one’s self is the most important key.

2. Let it out. Bottling up anger and pushing aside problems only result in building up of intense emotions. Talk with a friend or a family member who understands. Relationships and communications are great stress reducers. Emotional support from a person who cares for you goes a long way and makes life much easier. Plenty of social activities will automatically solve a lot of problems busy mothers face at work or in their domestic life.

3. Think positively. Women have a tendency to brood over matters which they think they could have done better. This tendency to self-suffer makes them more open to stress. So, let it go. Instead, admit to the failures, shortcomings, agonies, sacrifices and imperfections and focus on the positive aspects of life. Make a plan and figure out how you can perform better the next time.

4. Make new friends. Making acquaintances apart from the colleagues at work is very important because the friends from work place tend to discuss topics related to work which is the main thing that ties them all together. Friendships that take place outside the work area broadens the mind, helps share personal interests and experiences and provide opportunities to indulge in activities together unrelated to work like jogging or swimming, going to a movie or a health spa or a picnic.

5. Take a day off. Usually the wife is the one looking after the kids, picking up after them, feeding and bathing them in addition to all other regular household chores. Let your husband do the chores for one day of the week every week while you relax on the sofa and turn on some music. Talk with your husband, explain and schedule a workday for him.

6. Take it slow, enjoy motherhood. Mothers, working or not, are always hard pressed for time. So, they are always on the run. Rushing down to the grocery store after putting the toddler hurriedly in the car seat, flying up and down the stairs with the laundry, cooking a fast meal for self, cleaning the kitchen in five minutes all become regular routine and when the mother finally finds time to catch up on her favorite TV show, the baby starts bawling in the crib. There will always be something to be done. Strike off two or three things that you know can wait from your to-do list. Start your day before everyone in your household does. Wake up one hour earlier and enjoy a nice, warm cup of coffee at peace in your kitchen. Take a stroll in your neighborhood and admire the smiling daisies, the lush greens and take in as much fresh morning air as you can. Drive slower than usual on your way back from work. Slow walking helps release the stress. So, go out with your baby in the stroller during the evening hours after you are back from work and watch the sun go down. Listen to music in the evening, dance to the tunes with your baby and fill yourself with a refreshing pleasure.

7. Laugh a lot. Correctly evaluate a situation and stop blaming yourself for another person’s mistakes. Attack stress with the laughter weapon. Laughter medicine releases disease fighting antibodies, stimulates heart and lungs, relieves muscle tension, increases longevity and improves oxygen supply in the blood. Hearty laughter needs no effort at all. Invest a little in jokes books or funny cartoon magazines, hang around with people with good sense of humor or simply play with your kids and pets in your backyard after a long work day and rejuvenate your soul.

8. Diet and exercise. There is so less time for busy mothers to take care of themselves that either they can’t think about exercising or they are too tired at the end of the day to do some sit ups. But, mothers, here is a good and affordable solution to your problem. Exercising three or four times a week builds up your physical reserves and helps you fight stress more efficiently. Moderate and slow exercises like cycling, walking, aerobics, swimming and jogging can be very effective to ward off stress. Exercises help you sleep better and start a whole new day with new vigor and an enhanced feeling of self esteem.

9. Indulge yourself with Yoga and meditation. The rewards of yoga are endless, both physically and mentally. Setting up and honestly following a fitness regime which is both enjoyable and exhilarating both calms the mind and strengthens the body, giving you the boost, much needed by busy mothers, to carry yourself further. Practiced for centuries, yoga massages the internal organs as well as energizes the soul. It stimulates the muscles in the various body parts in a non-strenuous manner and brings about flexibility in those areas which were never so much worked upon before thus stimulating active blood circulation which means efficient transport of nutrients attributing to delayed ageing, a boost in stamina, improved digestion, dodging disability, enhanced breathing, rejuvenation of skin and radiation of confidence. You will discover a new vigor in life. Most importantly, the goal of yoga is to attune body with mind and soul. It requires only 15-20 minutes each morning to practice yoga. Regular practice of yoga will relieve you of physical pain and stress giving you a positive outlook towards life and enlightenment of soul. It is the exercise of the body as well as the mind. Thousands have been aroused by yoga’s magical touch and have benefited from it. In essence, the centuries’ old healing touch of yoga will transform your life at the spiritual level.

10. Pamper yourself with Aromatherapy. The word aromatherapy actually means the use of essential oils (many of which have magnificent aromas) found in various plant parts like flowers, seeds, fruits, leaves, bark or wood in a curative manner. Aroma or essence is found everywhere and it influences our mood in a wide variety of ways. Aromas of some spices like cinnamon and cardamom in the kitchen water the mouth while lavender and chamomile scented candles around the tub soothe the nervous system. Rose petals in bathing water improve the skin texture, dried citrus fruits freshen the indoor air and sandalwood powder alleviates stress. Aroma of ginger in tea eases cold symptoms and meditating with the use of jasmine incense in a dimly lit room and a restful environment calms the mind and sets the mood.

It is extremely difficult for busy mothers to find time to pamper them with the elaborate techniques of aromatherapy. But one thing is for sure. It is a sure shot stress buster. So, if the busy mother can find time, there is no alternative to aromatherapy.

Some aromatherapy techniques:

a) Massage- is the key to longevity. When we massage ourselves or receive a massage with essential oils, the oils lubricate the skin and are absorbed by the body. They enter through the pores in the skin, seep through the tissues and reach the bloodstream, which helps them reach the various organs of the body. The exhilarating aroma of the oils refreshes and relaxes the mind, rejuvenates the skin and cools down the body.

Recipe for massage:

3 drops of olive oil

2 drops of neem oil

2 drops of sandalwood oil

3 drops of arachis oil

3 drops of lavender oil

Mix the oils and gently massage all over the body after bath when the body is most receptive.

b) Meditation- Fragrances enter the human body through the nasal pores and stimulate the olfactory nerves. These nerves then carry the impulses to the brain thus energizing it, which in turn does the job of arousing the whole body. This influences the hormone levels of the body that regulate desires, passions, urges, emotions and memories. The subtle effect of the oils thus can control the senses and the body responses accordingly.

Recipe for meditation:

5 parts Sandalwood oil

3 parts Frankincense

2 parts Myrrh

Put the ingredients in a diffuser and put it in your room where you intend to meditate.

c) Sleep promotion and stress relief- Nothing can be compared to the soaking of the whole body in a tub full of lukewarm water with a few drops of essential oils in it after a full day of work. Aromatic candles with lavender scent can also be added to the scenario. The vapors penetrate the skin and reach the brain, where they stimulate the nerves and send down a cool, revitalizing and relaxing sensation all throughout the body.

Recipe to promote sleep:

4 drops lavender oil

Add 4 drops lavender oil to 1 teaspoon milk. Pour into warm bath water and soak or put them in a diffuser at bedtime.

Recipe to relieve stress:

1. 3 parts ylang ylang

2 parts Lavender oil

1 part Sandalwood oil

2. 4 drops of sandalwood oil

5 drops of lavender oil

Pour then in warm bath water and soak or put them in a diffuser at bedtime.

Lastly, do whatever is good for you. Take positive steps to reduce stress like laughing aloud with friends and family, going for an outing, pampering yourself one afternoon with a facial while your kids stay with their father or a babysitter or just soak yourself in the tub with some aromatic oils and rose petals after putting the kids to sleep. Determine the stress causing elements and be creative in finding solutions befitting your hectic schedule to not let them hamper your life. Put yourself to test and try to make these solutions work for you.

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