When I wrote the post, Claim it girl!, I was dealing with my lingering issues with the”WAHM” moniker. Since then, I’ve gotten to know an awesome group of former work-outside-the-home moms (WOHMs) who have not only embraced their role as a WAHM, but thrive in it.

Today’s post introduces Whitney, a WAHM who successfully made the move from WOHM and loves it! Here’s more about Whitney:

Michele: Describe your career before you began working from home.

Whitney: I was a Foods Editor for Southern Living magazine’s cookbook division for almost 10 years, creating titles like Christmas with Southern Living and Southern Living’s Annual Recipes. I loved my job in Birmingham where I also had graduated college.

Michele: What made you decide to leave the traditional workforce to work from home?

Whitney: In 2000, after the birth of my third child in four years, I did what most moms of preschoolers do: I did the math. After childcare costs, dry cleaning, taxes, and gas, my take-home pay was going to be much less than minimum wage. I decided I could find something to do from home to bridge the gap with my husband’s income. I moved to a new division in our company, Southern Living at Home, to help recruit and train a new sales force to sell upscale home decor products, similar to those found in the pictures of the magazine, in a home party atmosphere. Best of all, I could do it from home.

Michele: What unexpected challenges did you face during the transition from WOHM to WAHM?

Whitney: First, although we had a budget, we quickly ran up credit card debt because we were so used to my income for a lot of the little things you don’t plan for: gifts, ballet, soccer cleats, hair highlights, and the occasional cavity. Add that to the fact that I missed the “water cooler” time at work and adult conversation, and my first 6 months as a WAHM was less than successful. I also struggled with being my own boss and setting up boundaries and actual time to work. By the nine-month mark, I had a conversation with my old boss, inquiring if my old job might be available.

Michele: What do you enjoy most about working from home? Is it as you imagined it would be

Whitney: I have to say, working from home was better than I ever could have dreamed. I can set my schedule around my family’s activities, but the best part is not having to ask permission for vacation or feeling guilty about staying home with a sick child. Yes, the pay is much better, but the benefits make me fulfilled.

Michele: What advice would you give to a mom who is thinking about making the move from WOHM to WAHM?

Whitney: I have found that our tasks merely expand to the time we give them, so you’ve got to set a schedule for yourself if you really don’t want to go back to the corporate mine-field. I have two days a week that are “Super Woman” days where I am focused (think about all that you get done leading up to leaving for a vacation). I also schedule a “flexible” day to help recoup time lost for putting out fires, volunteer work, and, well, being there for the kids. I have a designated “me” day, family day and a rest day. I wish it wouldn’t have taken five years to find that groove, but after having our fourth child, it was a must.

To learn more about Whitney, follow her on Twitter @ JugglingMommy or visit her Web site at www.southernlivingathome.com/northamerica.

———-
Do you have a WOHM to WAHM story to share? If so, comment on this post or contact me and you might be featured on this blog!

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

When I first entered the realm of working motherhood more than eight years ago, I remember that terrifying wave of fear that captured me once I realized that life as I knew it was over. Motherhood became the window through which old beliefs and dreams exited and fresh ones entered. Most striking was how my window went from total clarity to a complete blur. Seemingly overnight, life just went off center. And so began my personal quest for the ultimate prize in motherhood – balance.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that a life consumed by the pursuit of balance would be one filled with stress, fear and anxiety. I imagined myself teetering on a tightrope, holding up all the responsibilities in my life as I tried not to let anything topple over into a crashing heap. That image caused physical, mental and emotional tension as I attempted to maneuver my life around the demands of career and family.

Today, as a work-at-home mom of three – age 8, 6 and 3 – I continue to seek balance, but these days I no longer ask, “How do I achieve balance in my life?” I’ve learned it’s a flawed question and one that won’t ever be answered to my satisfaction.

Peter Block, author of The Answer to How Is Yes, sheds light on why my question was flawed when he writes,

“How questions express a doubt about whether we know enough and are enough; it also affirms the belief that what works is the defining question, a major source of our identity.”

Whoa. I first read those words in 2004, then a frazzled working mom of a toddler and newborn, and the passage made me realize that my pursuit of balance was wholly based on function, rather than meaning. I was focused on tasks rather than people. I was becoming more operational and less emotional. I was losing myself to the day-to-day responsibilities of working motherhood, which left little time for me to enjoy life.

Since then, I’ve learned that balance comes from having a deep understanding of myself, claiming what I want from life and having a process to get there. That’s it! When those three elements are in place, life is balanced and I’m in my groove.

It all boils down to this simple formula: Balance = You + Dreams + System

Over the last several years, I’ve used this formula to coach working moms seeking balance and have even shared bits of that advice here on this blog. Now, I’ve developed a six-week eClass that teaches moms to use the formula to achieve balance and fulfillment while working from home.

I intended to launch the class – Get Your Groove Back! – in August, but the curriculum is 99.9% complete and I’m ready to launch the beta version next week. I wanted to share a few highlights with you now because I’m really excited about it!

• The class is best-suited for former work-outside-the-home moms who now work from home or telecommute;
• The class includes six lessons delivered over six weeks; and
• This is not a group class, but a one-on-one intensive personally facilitated by me via email. It also includes one hour of telephone support.

The early bird gets the worm, or in this case a great deal. If you are as excited about this as I am and are ready to jump right into the Get Your Groove Back! eClass, click here to learn more and enroll for a ridiculously low price (even lower than the introductory price I’ll offer next week).

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

Summers can be long here in Arizona. Even before the heat reaches the triple digits, you’ll notice residents become hermits – either rarely leaving the shelter of their home, or moving from the A/C in their car to the A/C in their home without even a friendly wave to a neighbor. Imagine the challenge I face, working from home with three little ones – age 8, 6, and 3 – cooped up in the house for most of the day.

Nick Jr and my friends at Mom Select came to my rescue when they shipped me a Nick Jr Celebration Kit featuring two of my kids’ favorite Nick Jr characters – SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

The party kit gave my kids an excuse to invite their friend over and gave me something to look forward to as well – I never pass up a moment to share fun and laughter with my kids! So we invited a small cadre of their pals over for a late-afternoon Dora the Explorer party. Using the tips and ideas from MomSelect at www.momselect.com/nickjr, we created a fun, mid-summer party that included theme-inspired games and treats.

And you can too! I was sent two Nick Jr party kits, so I have an extra to giveaway. One lucky blog reader will receive a SpongeBob SquarePants party kit for 8 that includes: cups, plates, napkins and gummy Crabby Patties (yum!).

How to Enter
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment here describing what you love most about having parties with your children. Comment must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

Earn up to two additional entries when you:

{1 entry} Sign up for automatic updates from The Integrated Mother via email or RSS, then leave a comment here letting me know you’ve done so.

{1 entry} Spread the word about this giveaway via Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, etc., then leave a comment here to let me know how and where you shared. Here’s what you might share or tweet:

Enter to win a SpongeBob SquarePants party kit from @integratedmom; ends 7/15/09: http://bit.ly/nickjr

Giveaway Guidelines
This giveaway is open to US residents only. I’m giving away one (1) Nick Jr. SpongeBob SquarePants party kit that includes: cups, plates, napkins and gummy treat for eight. You must enter a valid email address when submitting your comment; entries will be verified. Please note, any comments that simply say “enter me,” “pick me,” or something similar will not count. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Winners will be chosen at random by Random.org and announced here by Friday, July 17, 2009. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my e-mail request for their mailing address before forfeiting their prize. Forfeited prizes will be given to another randomly selected entry.

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

Last month I wrote about the challenges I faced when I turned in my corporate high heels for life as a work-at-home mom (WAHM). My transition from work-outside-the-home mom (WOHM) to WAHM physically took place in 2003, but it’s taken more than six years for it to mentally and emotionally lock in. Based on your comments, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Shifting gears from corporate cog to WAHM is a change that is easier for some that others. Either way, the topic is worth having a conversation about.

Today’s post introduces Meryl, also known as the “Content Maven,” who was a WOHM for 13 years and became a WAHM in 2005. She says it was the “best move of my career.” Wow! I had to know more, so I interviewed Meryl for her insights on the transition from WOHM to WAHM. Here’s what I learned:

Michele: Describe your career before you began working from home.

Meryl: It started with three years in the Federal government working in the training department. When I left DC to return home to Texas, I found a career in telecommunications, mainly in process management and technical writing. When kid #2 arrived, I started taking online courses at NYU for a certificate in Internet Technologies thinking I would be a web designer. Hated web design. It just didn’t work for me even though I love computers and web sites. Programming was already out, although I did try a few courses to see if I could change my mind.

I published my first article for a popular Web design newsletter and won expensive software. That sparked something and started my portfolio. From there, I kept landing gigs and did this work on the side while I held down my corporate job. This went on for five years. I would’ve left sooner, but my husband got laid off before #3 was born. We had to wait until he was in a stable job with health benefits (three kids = lots of medical bills!)

Michele: What made you decide to leave the traditional workforce to work from home?

Meryl: Flexibility, diversity and ability. Flexibility to be there for my kids as needed especially one who has special needs. Diversity in the work I do for different clients. I never get bored. Ability in that I never thought I could have my own business because of my deafness (cold calling and all that marketing stuff to keep gigs coming in). Turns out I need not worry about that. I’ve been fortunate to keep business going thanks to client referrals.

Michele: What unexpected challenges did you face during the transition from WOHM to WAHM?

Meryl: Cleaning up the office to turn it into my office. It was a dumping ground (you know … where people put the boxes, mail and all the other stuff that have no place to go). I’m an organized person and like a clean, uncluttered environment. It’s a small office and I love working in it now. The rest of the transition went smoothly.

Michele: What do you enjoy most about working from home? Is it as you imagined it would be

Meryl: No commute and the flexibility to exercise when I want instead of fitting it in before or after work when I wanted to spend time with family. Life as a WAHM is better than I thought it would be. It also allows me to volunteer more often and hold PTA board positions.

Michele: What advice would you give to a mom who is thinking about making the move from WOHM to WAHM?

Meryl: To make the transition easier, consider building your business on the side while still working in your out of office job (unless you’re trying to do your out of office job at home). This approach is less stressful because you’ll already have work available. You won’t have to worry about spending the first few months trying to get gigs and not have much money coming in.

To learn more about Meryl, visit her Web site at www.meryl.net or follow her on Twitter @merylkevans.

———-
Do you have a WOHM to WAHM story to share? If so, comment on this post or contact me and you might be featured on this blog!

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

There are two things about summer break that drive me to the brink of crazy: 1) the suffocating, triple-digit Arizona heat that just goes on and on 24/7, morning and night, from June through October; and 2) trying to get work done while my three kids are home.

Combined, I’m a recipe for insanity – three active kids under 8 + one busy working mom with a pile of to-do’s for home and for work + stuck indoors for the better part of the day. At some point in the day, one of us will whine, “I wish we lived back in California,” and then the day is pretty much shot as we mope around the house missing our real home - cool, ocean breezes, family and friends.

Yet, there is a lot about summer that I absolutely love (even in Arizona) and one of them is when Mom’s House of Pancakes opens for business.

As the kids lazily crawl out of bed and head to the kitchen for breakfast, I’ve got my apron on, cinnamon-dusted batter mixed, and skillet warmed, “Welcome to Mom’s House of Pancakes! How would you like your pancakes today?”

When Mom’s House of Pancakes is open, the kids are free to order their pancakes however they choose. They love this! Their faces light up and they excitedly tell me how they want their custom pancakes made:

• One pancake with lots of butter and syrup and a scrambled egg with cheese, please!
• One pancake no butter, just syrup with strawberries on the side.
• One pancake with syrup and two slices of bacon.

As each plate is finished, I holler, “Order up!” and repeat the order, “One pancake…” Whoever ordered the plate runs up and I say, “It’s my pleasure to serve you. Hope you enjoy it!”

I’m always tickled by how much the kids relish this kind of overplayed, special attention. They gobble up their meals and when they drop their empty plates in the sink they say, “Thanks Mom! I love you.”

And in my book, that’s enough to cover the bill and a generous tip. (And it makes me forget, even for a moment, how much I miss being back home in California.)

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

Update 7-9-09: Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway. This giveaway is now closed and a winner has been selected. Congratulations Kim Moldofsky!! Please check your email for instructions on how to receive your Suave shower products!

Many moms joke that they’re too busy to take or enjoy a shower. I know the feeling. With three kids – age 8, 6 and 3 – my showers are quick, efficient and practical. I rarely take time to enjoy the water hitting my back or inhale the scent of my body wash.

But thanks to Suave® and my friends at MomSelect, I was given a golden excuse to indulge. They sent me a gift bag of amazing Suave® body products along with some tips from actress and busy mom of four, Holly Robinson Peete, on how moms can shower themselves beautiful this summer. I took advantage of one tip right away – “Slip into a delicious fragrance” – and hopped into the shower to try the Suave® Naturals Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash. I finished off using the Suave® Cocoa Butter Shea Body Lotion. My daughter said I smelled like a piece of candy!

You can shower yourself beautiful with Suave® too! I was sent extra products that I’m giving away to a lucky blog reader:

• One (1) full-size Suave® Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash;
• One (1) full-size Suave® Naturals Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash; and
• One (1) full-size Suave® Advanced Therapy Body Lotion

By the way, Suave is also holding a separate giveaway at www.ShowerYourselfBeautiful.com where you can register for a chance to instantly win some pretty cool prizes. Be sure to enter there too!

How to Enter
To enter the giveaway hosted here, just leave a comment with a tip on how you “shower yourself beautiful.” Comment must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

Earn up to two additional entries when you:

{1 entry} Sign up for automatic updates from The Integrated Mother via email or RSS, then leave a comment here letting me know you’ve done so.

{1 entry} Spread the word about this giveaway via Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, etc., then leave a comment here to let me know how and where you shared. Here’s what you might share or tweet:

Enter to win a Suave Skin set from @integratedmom; ends 7/8/09: http://bit.ly/suaveskin

Giveaway Guidelines
This giveaway is open to US residents only. I’m giving away one (1) full-size bottle of each: Suave® Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash, Suave® Naturals Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash, and Suave® Advanced Therapy Body Lotion. You must enter a valid email address when submitting your comment; entries will be verified. Please note, any comments that simply say “enter me,” “pick me,” or something similar will not count. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Winners will be chosen at random by Random.org and announced here by Friday, July 10, 2009. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my e-mail request for their mailing address before forfeiting their prize. Forfeited prizes will be given to another randomly selected entry.

Remember, Suave is also holding a separate giveaway at www.ShowerYourselfBeautiful.com so be sure to enter there too!

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

I run.

I run because it makes me feel strong.

I run to keep my size 6 figure.

I run because it’s cheaper than a gym membership.

I run to release stress.

I run to earn cheesy t-shirts, fun goodie bags, and cool medals.

…and today…

I ran to set a good example for my kids.

My kids are used to my running antics. I slink around the house in the wee hours of the early morning, assemble my running gear and quietly slip out of the house. Occasionally my oldest daughter, 8, will catch a glimpse of me on her way to the bathroom. I’m greeted by a drowsy “Hey Mom,” and a lazy wave as she wraps up and shuffles back to bed. Sometimes she can’t go back to sleep, so when I return an hour later I’m greeted by a more enthusiastic, “Hey Mom! How was your run?”

Last night, my daughter asked if she could join me on one of my early morning runs. Overhearing our plans, my 6 year old and 3 year old asked if they could come too.

“I leave early you guys. Like 5:15 am. Because it gets so hot here.”

Oh. (pause)

“But, I’ll leave a little later for you. We’ll leave at 6:30 am. That means up by 6. And that’s the latest. It’ll already be 85 by then.”

OK!

Excited for a run with mom, the kids became a flurry of activity and prepared to run the next morning by getting their workout clothes, socks and shoes ready. My 3 year old son even dug up his Go Diego Go backpack and stocked it with a water bottle, sunblock and a dry washcloth, “To wipe your sweat Mommy.” Nice.

As promised, I woke the kids up at 6 am. Surprisingly, they popped up, got dressed and were ready to go within 15 minutes. We headed out.

The girls ran, ‘Lil Man biked and I jogged.

We went exactly 0.9 miles to the neighborhood AJ’s Fine Food.

We enjoyed a nice breakfast.


He says, “Mommy. I think we should call Daddy to pick us up.”

They refreshed in the misters before we embarked on the 0.9 mile trek back home. Of course, one didn’t want her hair to get frizzy. I know the feeling. We avoid misters.

The last quarter-mile was tough for the girls. ‘Lil Man was encouraging though, “Oh c’mon guys. See?! I’m doing it!” Of course, he’s on a bike and the girls are on foot.

We made it home – sweaty, rosy and grateful for a great early morning together.

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

For the last six years I’ve resisted having the label “work-at-home-mom,” or WAHM, used to describe me. Initially, this was because of my snobby, “I’m a real working mom,” attitude that was left from my days as a corporate cog. And apparently the conversation about what makes a real working mom is still a hot-button topic today. But I digress.

I left traditional, full-time employment in 2003 to go on my own and have been working from home ever since. I like love it. Even though “WAHM” is an accurate description of who I am today, I’ve struggled to fully to claim it as my identity. The powerful corporate cog of yesteryear lingers in every shadow and I’m culled back to the belief that I was a better person then than I am now. Of course, I know that’s not true. But the thought still hangs in the air urging me to breathe it in.

This push-pull struggle between identities has been the most intriguing part about being a mom – ever since I popped out that adorable 6 lbs 5.5 oz bundle of love in 2001, my life has been just one identity crisis after another:

• Working Woman to Working Mother to Work-at-Home-Mom
• Skinny Girl to Overweight Mom to Skinny Mom
• Corporate Cog to Savvy Mompreneur to Aspiring Writer
• …the list goes on…

Over the last several weeks I’ve tried to move past my obsession over the “WAHM” moniker. At first, I thought I might just have a problem with labels altogether. They can create stereotypes that inaccurately categorize people. For example, last year my daughter’s Kindergarten teacher found out that I’m half-Japanese, thus making my daughter a whooping one-quarter Japanese. That evening my daughter tells me, “Mr. X said I must eat a lot of rice.” This, while we happened to being eating rice for dinner, but that’s beside the point. The point is, labels are an opportunity for people to make wild generalizations about you – inaccurate or not. I wondered whether I really wanted to adopt the label “WAHM” and inherit all the stereotypes that go along with it.

I was over-thinking it all though. The answer to my WAHM identity crisis finally arrived this morning while I taking a shower – that’s where nirvana meets creativity and ideas tend to spark, or maybe it’s because the shower is the only time when my thoughts are free to roam without interruption, but again…digressing. Here’s what I finally came to: Claim it girl! And that’s what I’m doing today – claiming my identity:

I’m a work-at-home writer mom.

Of course, claiming a new identity isn’t exactly like flipping a light switch and just being “on.” There is an evolutionary process at work and that takes time. But I’m patient and am willing to grow into my new identity. One of the things that will change is the direction of this blog, which is currently focused on moms who work outside the home.

One thing is certain – I’m passionate about my life as a working mom. But after more than six years working from home, my perspective on life for moms who work outside of the home isn’t always on point. And let’s be honest – although we share many commonalities, a work-outside-the-home mom has different challenges than one who works from home.

For example, I don’t really know what it’s like to get up at 6 am to get the kids ready for daycare, because I haven’t had to do it for a long time. When I attempt to develop an article or personal essay for this blog, I’m forced to stretch my memory to a faraway experience just so we can relate.

Trying to fit into an outdated identity is tough work and probably a main reason many moms feel off balance. It’s far worse that taking the leap to claim an identity that’s been begging to be recognized. But, I won’t be doing you that disservice anymore. Over the next several weeks, this blog will likely undergo some changes as I work to grow into life as a work-at-home writer mom. And I can’t guarantee it’ll be pretty, but it’s sure to be interesting and more important a more accurate reflection of who I am today.

Your turn – is there a part of you that has been aching to come out, but you’ve resisted it? Why? Maybe it’s time you claimed it girl!

The therapy session has now ended.

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

Update 7-2-09: Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway. This giveaway is now closed and a winner has been selected. Congratulations Stephanie Jo Gomez!! Please check your email for instructions on how to receive your Go Go Pet Hamsters!

A winner has been selected. My kids (age 8, 6 and 3) have been asking me to buy them pet hamsters for months. We already have a dog, so the answer is always a clear and definitive, “No.” Imagine their surprise when I told them we were being shipped pet hamsters, complete with their own habit and play areas. They squealed with delight! When the Fed-Ex driver dropped off a large box with the label, “Pets Without Poop,” my eight-year-old roared with laughter and awkwardly carried the box inside.

Inside the box was a Go Go Pets Party Pack, stocked with 11 Go Go Pets Hamsters, a complete Go Go Pets Hamster “habitrail,” themed games and activities and easy-to-make recipes. After assembling the habitrail and unwrapping three hamsters, one for each kiddo, the kids went off to play while I searched for a date to hold a Go Go Pets Party!

By the way, the Go Go Pets hamsters work exactly like the video demonstrates. The usual skeptic, I saw the video before receiving the pets and thought like every other toy, these wouldn’t be nearly as fun as the commercial shows. I was wrong! My kids love their Go Go Pets hamsters and I’m pleased with the quality of the product.

For the party we gathered a group of the kids neighborhood and school friends, age 3 to 9. Each child received one of four hamster friends. Some of the children had already heard the Phoenix buzz about the Go Go Pets because they attended the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game on May 31st when Go Go Pets hamsters were a big hit for the children in attendance.

The best part about the Go Go Pets hamsters is that my children have stopped asking me to buy them real hamsters. In fact, they’ll say to me, “Mom, we don’t need real hamsters anymore. These Go Go Pets are more fun and we don’t have a mess to clean up.” Well said, my little darlings…well said.

I have two extra Go Go Pets hamsters left from the party pack I received (two children didn’t show up to the party!). So instead of chasing them down, I decided to give the pair of them away to a luck blog reader!

About the Prize
One lucky blog reader will receive two Go Go Pets hamsters – Chunk, a laid-back surf hamster famous for chillin’ out, hangin’ back and layin’ low, and Mr. Squiggles, a fussy little guy whose been there, done that, and lived to tell about it!

How to Enter
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment here describing one advantage you see about having a Go Go Pets hamster over a live hamster. Comment must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Earn up to two additional entries when you:
{1 entry} Sign up for automatic updates from The Integrated Mother via email or RSS, then leave a comment here letting me know you’ve done so.

{1 entry} Spread the word about this giveaway via Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, etc., then leave a comment here to let me know how and where you shared. Here’s what you might share or tweet:

Enter to win a pair of Go Go Pets hamsters from @integratedmom; ends 7/1/09: http://bit.ly/gogopets

Giveaway Guidelines
This giveaway is open to US residents only. I’m giving away two (2) Go Go Pets hamsters. You must enter a valid email address when submitting your comment; entries will be verified. Please note, any comments that simply say “enter me,” “pick me,” or something similar will not count. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Winners will be chosen at random by Random.org and announced here by Friday, July 3, 2009. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my e-mail request for their mailing address before forfeiting their prize. Forfeited prizes will be given to another randomly selected entry.

Current Sponsor(s):
Enter to win a Nick Jr partware set now through July 15, 2009: http://bit.ly/nickjr

----------
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a fan of The Integrated Mother on FaceBook.
Join The Integrated Mother Network on LinkedIn.
Connect with other working moms on The Integrated Mother Network.

©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.

Guest post by Lori Radun.

The other day Ian climbed up on my lap with his usual printed copy of a house plan. Yes, you heard that right. Ian searches for houses on the internet and prints out the blueprint of the floor plan. He says to me “Mom, plan your day.” He wants me to take him through what I would do for the whole day in the house as his little finger follows me from room to room. This passion of Ian’s has been going on for a few months now, so this is certainly not the first time he has asked me to do this. With a big sigh I said “Oh honey, sometimes Mommy gets tired of doing this.” What he said next tore at my heart. “I’m just trying to find something to do with you mom.”

Last night I wrestled with my 17 year old son, and believe me I cherished that moment because rarely do I get that opportunity to connect with him. He’s gone all the time, participating in sports, hanging out with friends, or working. And in just a few short months, he is leaving for college and my opportunity to play with him will be gone.

There is no greater gift you can give yourself and your children than to be completely in the moment when you play with them. As busy moms, that’s not always easy. We have work to do, thoughts to be mulled over, and sometimes we’re just plain too tired to play.

When we are children, it is easy to be in the moment. We are not stuck in the past, or worrying about the future. Life happens in the moment. But then a funny thing happens and our brains develop and become more complex. Suddenly something as simple as staying present takes work and practice.

There is no magical formula for being in the moment with our children. We just need to stay conscious of our wandering thoughts, our urge to get things done, and the beliefs that stop us from losing ourselves in play. When these things threaten to interfere, we simply bring our attention back to our children and enjoy the present moment.

The benefits we receive when engaged in play are definitely worth taking time out to be in the flow of life with our children:

Wonder and Delight
Children help us experience delight in the simplicity of life. From the handful of dandelions they pick for you to the caterpillar crawling across the sidewalk, children remind us to stop and smell the roses. Observe the smiles and excitement and allow yourself to get sucked into their world of wonder and amazement.

Peace and Serenity
When we can allow ourselves to let go and be in the moment, all our worries and challenges melt away. An inner peace takes over and we forget about all the troubles in life. Time passes by, but we don’t care because our soul is at rest. On Mother’s Day this year, I watched an old video of my son Ian when he was 6 months old. I felt serene and content as I observed him communicating with and exploring his world.

Joy and Happiness
Play is designed to help us release our inhibitions and connect with the inner child that is within us. Joy and happiness is what we experience when we allow laughter to escape from our bodies. Children love to laugh, and they need us to access our silly side so we can be on the same page with them. By learning to engage in imaginative play with our children, we create a lasting bond that tells our children “you are loved”.

Balance and Love
Some of the greatest memories my son Kai has of his father are playing basketball indoors on his plastic toy basketball hoop. The space they played in was so small, but his father was animated in his play, and the love and joy flowed from him. Life cannot be all work and no play. Chores and work obligations should be balanced with fun and enjoyment. Challenges and stressful moments need to be balanced with love and peace.

So the next time your child wants to play or connect with you on some level, stop. Put aside whatever you are doing, and allow yourself to be completely in the moment with him. Children don’t need a large quantity of our time as long as we give them our undivided presence. In turn, we will be blessed with the love, joy, peace and wonder that life has to offer.

Lori Radun is a certified life coach, inspirational speaker and author of The Momnificent Life ~ Healthy and Balanced Living for Busy Moms. For more great tips and to receive two free reports “155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children” and “52 Positive Affirmations for Moms”, visit www.momnificent.com.

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©2005-2009 The Integrated Mother. All rights reserved.