Steady Mom

a word about working mothers

2012-02-09T00:00:00-05:00

you are one.

I don't care where you go or where you stay, if you are a mother, you're most definitely a working one.

Moms who work outside the home have my complete awe and respect. They juggle many balls that I wouldn't care to juggle, and they do so with grace, energy, and flexibility.

Moms who work at home juggle a tremendous amount as well. We also stare both our strengths and our weaknesses in the face 24/7. This takes courage.

I call myself a work-at-home mother, not because I earn money from my writing, but because I work. all day long. at home.

Raising children requires the best we have to offer, no matter how we approach it. Let's give each other the respect we deserve--as women, as people, as working mothers.

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tips for surviving as a solo parent

2012-02-08T00:00:00-05:00

hotel swimming - the best in winter

Steve's job, as CEO of Love146, takes him away from us on a semi-regular basis. I don't (typically) resent this, as I feel a big part of my contribution to the cause of abolition is allowing him to travel when needed.

This means I do quite a bit of solo parenting, but I know some of you do, too--if you are a single parent full-time, if your husband is in the military, or even if he's just gone away for an evening with friends.

Here are some tips that help me survive when solo parenting:

1. Choose a meal.

Last week when Steve was away for six days, I let each child decide on a dinner one day (I chose the others.) There was much excitement over this freedom, and we had special pre-made dinners that we don't usually buy to choose from.

2. Change it up a little and add in a surprise.

The kids and I broke out of town and went to a hotel for a night. Though I can't recommend it in terms of the amount of sleep I received, the novelty factor seriously helped distract everyone from missing Daddy--and we had the hotel's swimming pool all to ourselves.

3. But don't change it up too much.

Things are already different because Daddy's away, and this makes little ones (& their mamas, ahem) feel a little off. So allow for a few changes, but also keep plenty of balance and regular rhythm.

While I'm often tempted to abandon our typical school routine if Steve is away, I've found that actually it is the perfect time to keep going with that part of our day. Instead, we take a break when he comes home.

4. Let the kids snuggle with you for a night.

I haven't actually done this myself, but a friend once told me that whenever her father traveled for business her siblings got to take turns sleeping the night in their mom's bed.

5. Don't work too hard.

When you're solo parenting you carry extra stress, and mamas need to find a way to maintain balance.

I usually write when the kids go to a weekly class, but instead last week I went for a walk in the woods. I scheduled a repost on one of my blogs and just tried to slow my pace in other areas.

Look after yourself, sweet mama, so you can look after your little people.

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FREE copy of Mindset for Moms! UPDATE Promotion Now Over

2012-02-06T22:00:00-05:00

*UPDATE* This promotion has now ended, but Mindset for Moms is available for just $4.99 in four formats: for your Kindle, for your Nook, on iTunes, or as a printable PDF. To buy the PDF you can click 'add to cart' here:

Find out more about the ebook and read an excerpt here. Thanks!

From right now until 10 pm EST on Tuesday, Feb 7th, you can get a PDF copy of Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days FREE just by helping me spread the word about the book!

Cool, right?

Here's how it works:

1. Tweet, share on Facebook, pin to a Pinterest board, or blog (or all four!) about Mindset for Moms. Make sure you link to mindsetformoms.com and include the hashtag #mindset (if you're sharing on Twitter).

2. After you've done one or more of these four things, email me with the subject line "I shared mindset for moms" before 10 pm EST and you'll receive a PDF of the book for free!

The fine print: I'll respond to your email with a download link for the book within five business days. Thanks for your patience as I get back to everyone!

Thanks so much for helping me spread the word!

from chaos to calm: a new evening routine

2012-02-03T00:00:00-05:00

Photo by NeilsPhotography

Have you ever found one part of your day with the kids really needs an overhaul?

I recently realized that our evening/bedtime routine had serious room for improvement. These hours, when it's the end of the day, present serious challenges for parents everywhere, right?

After a particularly rough evening, here's what I wrote on my Facebook page:

Head here to read the 50 comments that readers left--full of advice, suggestions, and commiseration.

Our New (& Improved!) Evening Rhythm:

4:30 - Quick snack/ Play Outside (hooray for light in the evenings!)
5:00 - Trishna helps me with dinner prep (each of the kids is in charge of helping with one meal)
5:30 - Video time (one 25 minute show while I finish up dinner/chat with Steve)
6:00 - Dinner as a family
6:30 - Steve and I clean up...the kids each have a dinner clean-up job, too
6:45 - I brush each of the kids' teeth; showers for those who need it (The kids have showers once every three days.)
7:00 - Time for Sparkle Stories (This is our saving grace right now! The boys love to listen to these; Trishna likes to either draw, color, or read at the same time. While they are listening I can help anyone into their pajamas, snuggle, or finish up work of my own--the perfect winding down time.)
7:40 - Up to bed (The children take books upstairs with them to read for a while before lights out.)

Ah, peace in the evening hours, I could get used to this. I think I will.

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a moment of silence

2012-02-02T00:00:00-05:00

Thank you all for the love you sent to Robyn and her family yesterday. I sat in front of my laptop, reading your comments, tears streaming down my face. I could honestly feel the warmth of your prayers from across the globe.

Somehow it feels premature to leave the quiet, the stillness, of that place.

In the quiet, we cry and grieve.

In the quiet, we hear the Voice we need most of all.

In the quiet, we heal.

Is there some place in your life in need of a moment of silence?

May I encourage all of us, to stop the frantic analyzing and searching and wondering that crowds out life's beauty. Instead, let's take this one day to let the quiet to wash over us.

Look for the sacred in the stillness.

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Steady Mom

a word about working mothers

tips for surviving as a solo parent

FREE copy of Mindset for Moms! *UPDATE* Promotion Now Over

from chaos to calm: a new evening routine

a moment of silence

FREE copy of Mindset for Moms! UPDATE Promotion Now Over