Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have you ever wondered if your children were better off with the baby sitter than you? Scientific studies are beginning to point to the overwhelming value of a mother's love, hugs and support. Nannies, baby-sitters and relatives are terrific. They just aren't as terrific as Mom.
I have had the best of both worlds, I suspect. I worked a high-powered executive job until my older daughter was 2 and a half. At a crossroads in my career, I opted to "get pregnant and stay home for a year." HA! Little did I realize I was about to take a ten-year hiatus from my much-loved life! I didn't get pregnant right away, but, after having spent a year basking in the glow of being Mom, I couldn't bear giving up the care and nurturing of my daughter to another nanny, no matter how wonderful. I think it was the best career move of my life.
Well, ten years later, I am back in the work force and thriving. Yes, I felt bored much of the time. Yes, our family sacrificed the bigger house, fancier cars and vacations some of our peers were enjoying. But it was a conscious decision to sacrifice for the benefit of our children. We wanted our morals, our ethics and our life lessons to influence our children.
I think moms can work at home, be homemakers or work outside of the home and still be great moms. The most important part of mothering, I feel, is being there for our children. Maybe your sacrifice is going to work but spending your precious little free time reading your child a bedtime story every night, taking him to the park on Saturdays or chaperoning your daughter's school dance. What matters is our input, the confidence in our roles as mothers and knowing we are the best person for the role ... to understand how valuable we are to society.
Pat yourselves on the backs ... you've accomplished a miracle! There is no greater sacrifice on earth, in my opinion, than making the decision to be a parent. Know how important you are. Know that your children need you to be as solid an individual as you can be. Therein lies your strength as a mother, whether you spend all day at home or in an office. We are all exceptional women in our motherhood.
Copyright ? 2000-2004- Rexanne Mancini
Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com ? http://www.rexanne.com Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne's Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com
custom home cleaning Lincolnshire ..It's back to school time again. Does the thought of... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
Emotional OverloadMany single parents say they deal with a variety... Read More
When a couple steps forth with a baby in tow... Read More
Prioritize. Learn to say No. Steal some time for yourself.Don't... Read More
There are a LOT of alternative treatments for sale out... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
My wife and I have been working on a video... Read More
Software for parental control is a useful tool, if applied... Read More
In theory, working at home is an ideal situation. But... Read More
From the time the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in... Read More
How often do you think of family life as an... Read More
Most parents at some stage are driven to distraction by... Read More
Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
Even if your teenagers do not use drugs, you still... Read More
It can be hard being a parent with a teen... Read More
Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More
"Just turn the lights off and go to sleep"Do you... Read More
As a parent, are you at your wits end? Does... Read More
Children explore the world around them and learn through pretend... Read More
Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More
move in cleaning service Glencoe ..I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
If your child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder then at... Read More
Child support is defined as that part of your income... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
In his recent newsletter "Happy Kids", parenting expert Michael Grose... Read More
Having a baby is one of the most exciting times... Read More
We've got spirit, yes we do! We've got spirit how... Read More
For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
Here is a list of ways to convey the message... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
Maintain CommunicationEven though teens need to separate from their parents... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
Now I know that is not how the song goes,... Read More
Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's... Read More
It may seem obvious to many people why literacy is... Read More
"I don't know and I don't care."I've heard those words... Read More
Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More
Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
Joey steps away from his time out chair "I won't... Read More
Many parents seem to be more than a little confused... Read More
Salon visits can be scary experiences for small children: They... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
Parenting |