How Do You Cope When You Feel Stigmatized as a Stay at Home Mom?

We all know the stereotype of the stay at home mom lounging on the couch, eating bonbons and watching soap operas. It's a little out of date, but switch soap operas to texting her friends all day, and too many people keep the image of the lazy stay at home mom in their minds. Others are recognizing that many stay at home moms blog, but that isn't always treated as a positive. Clearly she's ignoring her family and not respecting their privacy. There has to be something wrong about what a mom does, right?

I'll admit to being a big fan of being a work at home mom. I like the challenges of earning a living from my business, and frankly it's the only way I could stay home with the kids anyhow. My husband doesn't earn so much that I could focus entirely on raising my family. That way lies financial disaster for us, not to mention frustration for me. But that doesn't mean I don't respect those moms who choose to be stay at home moms, no work at home job, no home based business, just focusing on the needs of her family.

There can be a certain lack of respect for that choice, however. Many people say stay at home moms are wasting their educations and talents. They'd be surprised to learn that being a stay at home mom doesn't turn your brain to mush. Most days at least, and anyone who has ever held a job knows working outside the home can do that too.

I think a lot of the problem is that raising a family isn't seen as a serious contribution to society. After all, working parents do the same while holding down a job. Surely a mother doesn't have to stay home with her kids and only stay home with her kids, right?

That's certainly possible, but it's not the only valid choice, and it shouldn't be the only valid choice. Just because you can work outside the home and still be a wonderful mother doesn't mean you have to work outside the home if you believe another choice is better for your family.

Being a stay at home mom doesn't mean you're like one of the housewives on a TV show. You probably aren't a trophy wife, although hopefully your husband is proud of you. Your life is rarely all that dramatic, just filled with moments that make being a stay at home mom worthwhile.

You don't always have time to watch someone else's children, run errands for them or volunteer for everything that comes up. You may or may not love to bake. Your home is as clean as you care to make it, and if that's too clean for some people and not clean enough for others, that's their problem, not yours.

You are absolutely qualified to have an opinion on world, national and local events. You aren't so obsessed with your family that you don't pay attention to the world around you.

You do know the many advantages to being home. It's not just raising your family and being there for your kids, although that's a pretty huge advantage. Some stay at home moms are also helping with elderly parents or other family members needing special care. You can help friends out when it fits in with everything else you're doing if you so choose. Plus you get lots of special time with your children.

Stay at home moms give up a lot, and many don't realize just how much, especially financially. It's not just the loss of income. It's less savings for retirement. It's a long delay in her career, which means missed promotions and opportunities. The sacrifices aren't for the faint of heart.

What Do You Do When Someone Doesn't Respect You as a Stay at Home Mom?

You aren't always going to get the respect you deserve as a stay at home mom because some people just don't get it. That said, the more confident you are in the value of what you do, the harder it is for someone to say it to your face. The things you do all day aren't too trivial to be mentioned. They may not be topics that everyone enjoys discussing, but then not everyone enjoys talking about sports, that awful traffic jam, who got that great promotion or shopping either. Find something else to talk about to the people who find your work as a stay at home mom boring.

Stephanie Foster runs http://www.homewiththekids.com/ as a resource for stay at home moms. Learn more about the difference you can make to your kids as a stay at home mom at http://www.homewiththekids.com/blog/2010/01/does-being-a-stay-at-home-mom-make-a-difference-to-your-kids/


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Child Safety Alarms

Every parent knows that children can be very unpredictable. It is in the child's nature to explore his surroundings and engage in new activities. However, danger lurks around the corner and strikes whenever it has the opportunity. Imagine it's summer and you are sitting with your three-year-old toddler in a park, enjoying the lovely scenery on this beautiful day. After you turned your back to your child for a moment, in order to get some candy out of your bag, you notice that he is missing. Desperately you start to search the park, but you are unable to find him. Worries about a possible kidnapping are racing through your mind. How can the threats of child abduction be reduced?

Fortunately, there are so called safety alarms for kids, which exist in various forms. For instance, parents can attach a locator to the child's belt, disguised as a little teddy bear. When the parents lose their child out of sight, for example in a crowded theme park or the mall, they only have to take out their transmitter and press the button. The teddy bear will make a very loud noise that will guide the parents directly to their kid. Such devices don't cost much money and are a great solution for finding your lost child.

However, sometimes the child has walked away too far for the sound to reach the parents. Or the surrounding area is too noisy to filter out the locator's sound. To avoid these barriers, parents can buy a GPS tracking device. Again, the child gets a locator attached. This piece of technology sends out GPS signals that parents can track with their transmitter. Thanks to this system, parents are able to check twenty-four hours a day where their child is located. Unfortunately, the main disadvantage is that these kind of safety alarms are still rather expensive. Also, GPS tracking devices only work outdoors.

But abduction alone is not the only threat to a child's well-being. A car can also be a dangerous area for young children. Fortunately, manufacturers have developed different kinds of safety alarms that can protect your kid from harm in a car. For instance, there are belt safety alarms that warn you whenever your child unbuckles his seatbelt.

Some parents may leave their kid unattended in the car, for example when they forgot something at home. The parent might get distracted by an unsuspected phone call, which makes him forget about the child he left in the car. Especially in warm climates this can be a very dangerous situation. That is why producers have developed a device that alarms you when you have left your kid alone for too long. This can be a great solution for parents who might lose track of time easily.

Water can be a great risk to children as well. Parents with a pool in their garden might consider buying a pool alarm system, which will emit an alarm when the child falls into the water. It is very simple and doesn't require any technical installation. You only have to lock a child-friendly wristband around your child's wrist that will send out a signal when it detects water. This signal causes the base alarm system to go off, and you will be immediately warned whenever your kid risks drowning.

There are many options for parents who want to expand their child's safety. Whether it is indoors, outdoors or in the car, for almost any scenario there is a fitting child safety alarm system. Of course, these devices do not substitute the essential parental supervision in any way. The safety alarms described above only give you the ability to expand your kid's safety even more.

Kevin Andersen is the owner of http://www.PersonalizedStoryTimeBook.com and specializing in children's personalized books.

Six Ways To Help Your Child Develop Musically

Does your child like the sound of music? If you think so, you can take a simple approach to help your child learn a musical instrument. The violin is good for a child who is four or five years old. First, allow your child to take an interest. Allow your child to be inspired. Build confidence in your child. Invest in your child. Encourage your child. Finally, allow your child musical possibilities.

1. Allow Your Child To Take An Interest. Your child will take an interest when he or she listens to a musical instrument. Travel to a music store. When you arrive at the music store, have your son or daughter watch and listen. Look at a violin for a child. It is rather light. Choose a violin provided that your child likes it and desires to learn. This is a good sign that your child is interested. The violin needs to be fitted properly to the child's age and size. Ask the music store for assistance.

2. Allow Your Child To Be Inspired. Before you get your child too involved with music, spend some reasonable time at the music store. Make enough time to watch people play musical instruments. Your child will be inspired because other people are making music. People playing instruments can excite your child.

3. Build Confidence In Your Child Help your son or daughter with the new musical endeavor. Your youngster will fell confident when you work together. As long as your child likes the violin, find a good violin teacher. Your music store can provide a good teacher. Get to know you youngster's teacher. He will give you assurance, and he will help your youngster with confidence.

4. Invest In Your Child. A child is the best investment. You can make a musical investment in your child even if you are not a musician. Devote time to your youngster to focus on music. The child will need to work on musical abilities. This is a valuable investment on your part. Make time so that your child can play for you. A music lesson is weekly, so keep up with your youngster's progress at home.

5. Encourage Your Child. Be supportive once your child has begun playing violin. Ask your child to play for you. Sit and listen. Applaud from time to time, and give approval. Your child will be encouraged. Travel together to a musical event like a concert. A venue like a concert has many musical instruments.

6. Allow Your Child Musical Possibilities. Musical possibilities for your child will develop over time. You will see your child's potential. Also, you will see possibilities once your child feels good about practicing. Practice is good discipline, so your youngster needs to keep up. As your child practices, he or she will improve. Over time skills will develop.

Be patient with your child. Your child's interest in music will develop. Keep your child inspired. Your child needs to hold on. Confidence is key. It will keep your child playing more often. Keep investing. It shows someone cares. Be encouraging. This will give your child an appreciation for music. Allow musical possibilities to come forth. Over time your child will become more skilled with the musical instrument.

Kevin Andersen is the owner of http://www.PersonalizedStoryTimeBook.com and specializing in children's personalized books.


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