A recent report by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress points out that for the first time in our nation’s history, women are half of all U.S. workers and mothers are the primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners in nearly two-thirds of American families.
The report, A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything, covers issues of the workplace, health care, and raising families, money and the media. It includes essays by women, and men, who are leaders in their fields, and is readable in digestible chunks. Take a look here.
AAUW (formerly known as the American Association of University Women) has developed a set of policy recommendations base on the report. You can read those here.
Submitted by tleonard on Oct. 20, 2009, 1:49 pm
Hello! My name is Lisa and I am a childcare provider. I am not licensed, but I offer a safe and educationally stimulating environment in my home. I live in Hedingham. Not sure if you’re familiar with it, but it’s a very large and well known subdivision in Raleigh. My zip code is 27604. It's close to wake med but borders the Knightdale side.
I have a baby boy that is almost 11 months old. And I am looking to care for children from newborn to five. I have 3 older children as well. But they are all in school. I have a 7 year old girl, 10 year old boy and a 13 year old boy. We have a HUGE family with over 24 cousins in all. We are very close so my children are used to have other children around. I have tons and tons of experience taking care of children, although my last nanny job was in Seattle, WA, in 2000. I have babysat a lot here in NC but it's recently that I've decided to nanny since my baby is getting older and I will be starting curriculum with him soon. I have the program “My Baby Can Read.” If you have never heard of that program, look it up on-line. It is sensational!
I used to be in the medical field before I had my last son. Once I had him, I really didn’t want to be without him, especially since all my children were older and I really wanted to experience this all over again. Just didn’t want to miss a thing. Little people are so precious and fun; it is my blessing to care for yours as well.
I am looking to create a good routine for the children. Such as: play-time, nap-time, “My Baby Can Read” time, lunch time, snack time, play-date time, etc… My son is already in that routine and I could add your children or child to the mix! I am First Aid and CPR Certified for Infants and Children. I am beginning the process to become state certified.
We have a community pool that provides fun and stimulation on those hot days (which will be GREAT for next summer) and an indoor basketball court on the rainy ones. The indoor court is great to develop gross motor skills while playing with balls and other outside toys. We have a neighborhood play ground. It's perfect for picnics and to burn off some energy. We also have a lake with a gazebo where we like to feed the ducks and turtles. It's a really great community that provides lots to do!
If you’re interested in talking with me and learning more about what I provide in serving you and your family, please call me at 919-623-1533.
Compensation: Can be negotiated
Submitted by runlisarun on Sep. 26, 2009, 11:21 am
On my way home from work one day, I had a thought. What if I were to leave my newborn baby in my car, forgetting to drop him off at daycare? I couldn't possibly do that! Well, I had just read an article about mothers just like me who are busy working moms, taking care of kids, work, house and hubby, who would never have dreamed that they would have done this horrible act..but they did. I cant help but think that some or all of these "accidents" were not just accidents. But I give anyone the benefit of the doubt. There are so many ways to prevent this from happening. Put your pocketbook, keys to the office, your lunch, anything in the back seat that you HAVE to take into work. Also, wouldn't it be wonderful if daycare's called the parent or parents if a child did not show up? I know the child is not the responsibility of the daycare until they are there, but it could help save lives. I asked my daycare director if they did that. She said she did in certain cases, but that she would call me if my baby did not show up because of my fear. I love my kids more than life itself. I could not imagine my babies sitting in the backseat of a hot car, screaming for me to save them from the agonizing heat. I just hope that God had mercy on all the babies who had to suffer and die that way. There have been 433 deaths since 1998. Outside temperatures at 80 degrees F can result in 123 degress on the inside of a car...IN AN HOUR! I think that one death like this in 100 years is too much. Something should be done. Spread the word and lets start saving these precious angels!!!
Submitted by motheroffour on Jul. 20, 2009, 1:57 pm
It's not at all surprising, but Nadya Suleman, the mom of the octuplets plus six more, is seeking donations on her Web site.
In addition to having to care for 14 kids, now the house she lives in is under threat of foreclosure.
So would you give money to her?
Submitted by slindenf on Feb. 20, 2009, 4:16 pm
What a sad story out of Garner today ... A dead toddler was found in a box in the closet. According to the story, someone called social services with concerns that the child hadn't been seen since Labor Day. And relatives told police that his mother had been acting strangely.
It says a detective tried to set up a meeting earlier this month, but was refused. Family members found the child.
You just wonder what happened and how it could have been prevented ...
Submitted by slindenf on Nov. 20, 2008, 9:14 am
I'm a Paramedic Certified by the American Heart Association to teach CPR, AED, Choking Management, and First Aid for infants, children and adults. The first 2 to 3 minutes in an emergency is the most critical time in a medical emergency, and the average person can learn lifesaving techniques in 3 to 4 hours. I believe this is a must for all parents. I can come to you, or set up a class. A minimum of 8 students is required.
I'm also certified to teach the following:
Pistol, Rifle, Home Defense (NAR).
Concealed/Carry Handgun Class (N.C. Department of Justice).
Unarmed Self-Defense (Martial Arts Experience).
Contact me for more information.
Van
Submitted by Van on Aug. 1, 2008, 1:50 pm
Do you have a great babysitter? How did you find her? How do you keep her coming back even though teenagers are extremely busy these days.? Share your tips and experiences...
Submitted by Alice_Osborn on Jul. 7, 2008, 12:52 pm
For Sale: Jogging stroller bought new, only used a few times. Grey with turqoise stripes. I can send picture or you can come see it. Asking $120 919-389-7970
Submitted by My4blessings on Jul. 6, 2008, 9:33 am
"Bullying" is a term that will bring different pictures to the minds of people. We all know toddlers and young children will 'bully' each other with and without menace, as they are trying to figure out the social rules as they grow. But bullying in the teen years has changed dramatically since this mom was that age.
Teens today deal with all the 'usual' social angst and insecurities that we grew up with, but today it's compounded by instant communication via phones and Facebook. A situation that would cool down by separation of angry teens is extended and expanded exponentially through these electronic medium. And today, sadly, the consequences of bullying are far too often traumatic for not just the child bullied, but innocent bystanders as well.
Recently, my son's group of five close friends went through a bad stage. It seemed that each week one of the guys was on the outs with the rest. Too often lately, it'd been my son. It peaked on a day when first the rest avoided him around the neighborhood and then, when they met up at a park, them leaving him there alone. It ended that night with Facebook exchanges that definitely upped the ante. It was devastating for him, and heartbreaking for me.
I realize our kids need to learn how to deal with such situations, but I have also learned in 20 years of parenting that we parents need to step in much more often than we're led to believe, because the fact is our teens are NOT adults, and they need guidance throughout the teen years. I have learned that even when I was sure they weren't listening, they were doing so closely.
So after I said goodnight late that night to an extremely sad young man, I decided to email one of the boys' mothers, one I knew better than the rest; one I had learned through casual discussions on the sidelines had a similar parenting philosophy. This was not a decision I made lightly. You never know today how parents will react to being told their kids have done something wrong. I have been called a liar, told my son was one, told I just needed to let them handle it and all too often been told there was no way their child could've done what I said. So I was trepedatious, but I wrote it anyway. I explained what had happened, and admitted that the next time it could very well be my son who'd be one of the bullies instead of the 'bullee'. I said I knew we could not force them to be friends or to talk, but that we could guide them to either be friends to each other or not, and stop the emotional roller coaster they'd been putting themselves on. I asked for her advice and opinion, and requested that she tell me if she knew of ways my son had contributed to the current situation. And then I sent it off, trusting cyberspace to convey my heartbreak, my fear and my questions the way I felt them, borne of a piercing pain deep in my heart and soul.
The next morning, I found a new 'village.' You see, I've always believed in the idea of it taking a village to raise a child. I grew up in a blue collar area where every mother was my mother, or just as well was, since I couldn't take a wrong step without it being back to mom before I got home. Well, this mom called me first thing. Her son had already told her the night before what they'd done, and she'd been appalled. My note was the icing on the cake. She called the other mothers and told them what had happened, and they too were on the same page. The group of us talked and realized we each had found a heretofore unknown support system, right in our neighborhood. They made it clear they agreed that it had reached the point for parental guidance, and handled it with each of their sons.
The boys? Well, let's just say that each of these parents got to see that the seeds of conscience that they'd spent 15 years germinating in their boys flower that week. On the bus home from school, before they'd even heard they were in trouble, they had apologized to my son, righting his world with a few words. They weren't off the hook at home, but the fact they'd owned up to their actions on their own was huge.
It was, after all was said and done, both the best and worst of weeks. All of us involved grew a bit more, and our boys took a few more step toward being responsible, compassionate young men. I feel a sense of support I'd not felt before, and know the others feel the same.
Our boys will fight again, and no doubt they will drift in and out of friendship over the coming years. We parents can't control that and shouldn't. But through this incident I was reassured that no matter how fast society tries to hurry our kids along to adulthood, it's too early to throw in the parental towel during the teens. And I have kindred spirits out there who have learned the same thing. As I always say when talking about parenting teens, there's safety in numbers.
Submitted by mom2teens on Jun. 14, 2008, 11:40 pm
How are the $4 gas prices affecting your life and your kids' lives? I'm lucky to work from home, but I constantly watch how much I drive during the day. I opt out of trips if I can't combine them and I don't go to church as often because of the gas crunch. Are we at the point that our friends have to qualify to be gas-worthy (Like Elaine's "Sponge-worthy" comment on Seinfeld)? Share your frustrations.
Submitted by Alice_Osborn on Jun. 11, 2008, 3:05 pm
