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
home cleaning services Deerfield ..For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner... Read More
Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More
How on earth can you help your family cope with... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
What do you do when your child begins talking to... Read More
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More
Child Car Seat Safety:We know you love your children, but... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
It's the third time this week that Sam has complained... Read More
If you were to ask 100 parents why they think... Read More
Are you a professional?Notice how the questions differs from, "Do... Read More
Q: My husband and I are at a loss as... Read More
So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More
If there are any parents reading this who are thinking... Read More
Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve... Read More
Many parental units are not "techies" and openly admit they... Read More
Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More
Since so many would rather avoid the use of stimulant... Read More
Child care costs are are one of the most expensive... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
1. You reheated the same cup of coffee three times... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..The biggest trick some child predators' are using these days... Read More
I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No... Read More
As part of the whole-language (or "balanced") reading-instruction philosophy, many... Read More
The public school system in America has become a dismal... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
Jason Meridith's two-year old son whines when he wants more... Read More
Q. How do I overcome the 16-year-old who does things... Read More
Children are notoriously bad at drinking enough liquids. They are... Read More
There are software programs that you can purchase to keep... Read More
1. They can make mistakes under your guidance2. They will... Read More
If you are like most people today, you do not... Read More
For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
Mother's Day is important for children.This Mother's Day take note... Read More
It's been said, time and again, that for a child... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More
"Before every action, ask yourself: Will this bring more monkeys... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More
Most parents at some stage are driven to distraction by... Read More
Parenting |