Stay At Home Moms | Mom At Last

Stay-at-home moms: More vulnerable to depression than working moms?

May 21, 2012 by Mom at Last Leave a Comment

A quarter of stay-at-homes moms say they struggle with malaise, compared to just 16 percent of working moms, according to a new Gallup survey

Here’s some fresh ammunition in the “mommy wars”: According to a new Gallup poll, stay-at-home moms are more likely to report feeling sad and angry than working moms. Does this mean it’s healthier for women to balance family life with a job outside the home, or is the picture more complicated? Here, a brief guide to the findings:

What exactly did the survey reveal?

A quarter of stay-at-home moms said they had felt sadness the day before the survey, compared to just 16 percent of working mothers. One-fifth of the stay-at-home moms reported having felt anger the day before, compared to 14 percent of working moms. And 28 percent of the stay-at-home moms said they had been diagnosed with depression, while just 17 percent of the working moms said so. The study included 61,000 respondents.

Did moms say why they felt glum?

No. But if you sort through the poll responses by income, says Lisa Belkin at The Huffington Post, “it becomes clear that money, not [employment status], has the largest impact on a woman’s mental health.” Both working and stay-at-home moms are far more likely to describe themselves as “struggling” — and far less likely to say they’re “thriving” — if their household income is less than $36,000.

Filed Under: Stay at Home Moms, Working Moms Tagged With: moms, moms over forty, new moms, stay at home moms, working moms

It’s Not a “Mommy War,” It’s a War on Moms

April 14, 2012 by Mom at Last Leave a Comment

There is no question that Hilary Rosen should have chosen her words more carefully when she said that Ann Romney, mother of five sons, “never worked a day in her life.” Raising children is work. It’s immensely rewarding work, but it’s work just the same. Ann Romney is justifiably proud of the work she’s done raising her children.

Now that the spotlight is on motherhood, rather than fanning the false flames of a “Mommy War” that doesn’t really exist, it’s time that we as a nation recognize that regardless of whether or not mothers’ work is paid or unpaid, the work of caregiving is important to us all and should be valued.

That’s right: Mothers’ work should be valued.

But too often it’s not.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Moms, Moms In Waiting, Moms Over 40, New Moms, Stay at Home Moms, Working Moms Tagged With: mom, Mom At Last, mommy, moms, Moms over 40

Stop Judging Other Moms

March 15, 2012 by Mom at Last Leave a Comment

Written by Denise Albert
Co-creator, The Moms

I hated being pregnant. I didn’t even try breastfeeding. I have struggled internally about how I feel about the fact that my kids climb into my bed at night. But after spending some time with Mayim Bialik at an event we hosted for bloggers to discuss her latest book, “Beyond The Sling”, I have a whole new way of thinking.

If you’ve turned on the television in the past week you have probably seen Mayim discussing Attachment Parenting, the method by which she parents her children. You’ve heard that she co-sleeps, home-schools and breastfeeds until her kids are ready to stop.

We couldn’t be more different. And truthfully, I was hesitant about hosting events for her. I was worried that my way would be judged. I was worried we would have nothing to talk about. She talks about breastfeeding and the Lansinoh bags she uses to store her milk. I wonder if it’s OK to say I love their wipes. (I did!)

What a difference a few days make. After seeing her three days in a row, she confessed to me, and wrote on her blog, “TheMoms.com moderated my Barnes and Noble talk and also hosted a 30 person blogger conference yesterday at my publisher’s office. When I originally heard about them, I was worried they were anti-attachment parenting people out to get me … We have had some really neat conversations on and off camera and I am so impressed by what three women with different parenting philosophies and open minds can accomplish. We have broken down a lot of the judgmentalness [sic] and cattiness women are expected to have in discussing controversial differences in parenting, and it’s been a real enlightening experience for us all.”

That’s an understatement. I left each conversation with Mayim wanting to learn more. There’s something really appealing about what she says and how she says it all. She is intelligent and inspirational. She makes it seem so easy. She makes life seem perfect, although she is the first to admit she’s not and neither are her kids.

Continue Reading about Judging other Moms…

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Filed Under: Moms, Stay at Home Moms, Working Moms Tagged With: Mom At Last, moms, Moms in Waiting, Moms over 40, Motherhood, Motherhood Journey

Moms Are Powerful

February 24, 2012 by Mom at Last 1 Comment

As a journalist mom I enjoy interviewing interesting entrepreneurs and companies that are passionate about kids and community. King Arthur Flour is one such company.

Over the past six months I’ve been on an extended interview with King Arthur Flour — our email strings could circumnavigate the earth.

And it’s all because of their amazing Life Skills enrichment program that teaches elementary and middle school kids how to bake.

And you can’t beat the price to schools… FREE!

And yet I never imagined I’d have this much trouble selling something FREE to local schools in my life.

In a nutshell, King Arthur Flour (or KAF) is located in Vermont. They are the oldest most respected flour company (think George Washington) in the U.S. KAF views success as not just making money… but by giving back to community.

One of the many ways they do this is through the Life Skills bread baking program.

“The point of the Life Skills program is for kids to have a fun, real-world application for skills they’re already learning in school — math, science, reading, planning, problem solving, and more. And they get to use their new skill to help people in their community.”

I don’t think I could have kept trying to get the Life Skills program in my community if I didn’t understand the power of kids cooking first hand through cooking with my own four kids and more recently with my daughter, Amelia’s class.

Every month I cart a wagon full of supplies to Amelia’s second grade class to cook with the kids.

Students help me rearrange the desks into cooking stations and help pass out whatever King Arthur Flour recipe we’ll be following that day.

I know I sound like I’m King Arthur Flour crazy… but it’s a part of my belief as a writer mom to support companies that give back to community and kids.

“Who has never cracked an egg before?” I recently asked a group of extremely focused eight-year-olds excited to make homemade Belgium waffles.

In unison, arms shot upwards like Blue Angels. Twenty-plus kids wiggling fingers, zigzagging arms, undulating wet noodles and an over-the-top wind shield wiper wave. All wore the same expression, “Pick me!”

Although it’s not a competition, watching kids work the recipe together is as fun and intense as an episode of Top Chef.

Each group of individuals has a separate process for stirring, adding and navigating through the ingredients: how to take turns, measuring, working together and sharing.

The experience is very rewarding. However, what King Arthur Flour does with Life Skills is so much more.

KAF sends out a baking team to a school. The school hosts an assembly where the baking team teaches the kids the skill of baking bread, then the KAF team sends each and every one of those kids home with a baking kit to make bread….Continue Reading

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Mama Insider E-Book

February 15, 2012 by Mom at Last 5 Comments

“Everyone loves to talk to pregnant women about The Miracle of Life. Natural? Beautiful? Let’s be honest: it’s just plain bizarre! Your previously normal body is morphing into gigantic proportions while you grow a whole new wiggly little person inside of it.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books by Moms, Stay at Home Moms, Working Moms Tagged With: Books by Moms, moms

A Mom’s Interest in Pinterest

February 15, 2012 by Mom at Last 2 Comments

There’s this amazing little site on the internet called Pinterest in case you’ve yet to hear of it. You must request an invitation to join. Pinterest is a site that allows you to create a “virtual pin board” for the many wonderful pictures you happen upon on the site. There are photos with links to fashion, design, recipes, crafts, you name it—it’s on Pinterest.

I liken it to flipping through the pages of a most amazing magazine. It’s a little escape for this mom.

I pin photos of kitchen design for my “dream” kitchen. You know the kitchen with plenty of cabinets and smart storage options; the kitchen with a huge island to gather my kids around for homework; the impeccably clean kitchen I’ll never have because that’s just not reality.

I pin photos of neatly organized pantries, laundry rooms and closets. Who doesn’t need to be more organized? There are many creative ideas for organization with materials and supplies you already have at home. I realize I’m not the only neat freak who dreams of organized can goods.

I pin photos of creative and imaginative recipes I want to try like crockpot boiled peanuts, homemade apple pie pop tarts, cinnamon roll pancakes, or baked pumpkin spiced doughnuts. Which that reminds me, I need to make a grocery list.

I pin inspirational quotes to, well, inspire me. Some quotes remind me that I am not alone. Some quotes remind me that I am a child of God. Some quotes remind me that I am stronger than I think. Some quotes remind me to laugh.

I really like this one: “Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens, and happy kids”.

I hope I never need this handwritten note on someone’s door but it made me giggle: “You have missed curfew! Do not knock or ring the doorbell. You may sleep on the patio. I have been generous this time and provided a blanket”.

You’ll find many to inspire both in their words and design. Many are made into works of art as they have been painted on canvas or a repurposed wooden barn door.

I pin photos of the “put together” fashion I can’t seem to justify wearing because I am either at the gym or home cleaning. I couldn’t possibly dress up like that to go the grocery store, could I? But these photos will be my guide whenever I shop for new clothes thus eliminating the purchase that goes unworn because it just doesn’t seem to go with anything I imagined that it would….Continue Reading

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Filed Under: Moms, Moms In Waiting, Moms Over 40, New Moms, Stay at Home Moms, Working Moms Tagged With: mom, moms, Moms in Waiting, Moms over 40

Moms Want to Regain Their Shape | New Moms

February 5, 2012 by Mom at Last 1 Comment

Pregnancy and childbirth are something one must experience to really understand the physical and emotional effects that we experience. Motherhood has many rewards and is one of the most fulfilling experiences a woman can have. Pregnancy prepares the body of the mother to nurture the baby as well. However, it can also leave us self-conscious about our bodies. Sometimes weight loss and strength training does not return your body to the flat, firm tummy you had before children. Additionally, pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause the breasts to sag and lose their “perk.”

It is not realistic to expect immediate weight loss after pregnancy. Do not try on your favorite pair of jeans! Your body needs time to adapt and recover. Remember, you gained weight over nine months.

Some things you can do:
· Check with your doctor. Be sure to consult your doctor for information on exactly when to begin postpartum exercise. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that changes that take place during pregnancy can continue for four to six weeks following birth, which means that it’s important to resume exercise gradually.

· Set realistic goals.
· Find ways to exercise with your baby.
· Reward yourself.
· Eat a healthy diet.
· Increase fluids.

The Time Factor!
Once a mother, it is difficult to find time to take care of yourself. Time becomes a factor. Let’s face it; women take care of everyone else before taking care of themselves.

You may be very dedicated to your exercise plan but still have some fat pockets that will not respond to diet and exercise. Or, maybe you are a busy mom and do not have time to go to the gym. Many women become unhappy with the shape and size of their breasts or begin to have drooping.

Dr. Mitchell Kaye of the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center states that “commonly requested procedures include tummy tucks and liposuction as well as breast augmentation and lifts.”

Statistics back up the trend. Among the top ten most commonly preformed procedures at AACS member practices in 2007, the greatest increase in procedures performed occurred for (tummy tuck) abdominoplasty (42.4%), followed by breast lift (41.8%) and (eyelid surgery) blepharoplasty (34.0%). According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), women have accounted for 80% of cosmetic surgery patients….Continue Reading