September 17th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Love by America's Next Top Blogger | No Comments »
By Kristen D
I am a 32 year old new mother who is about to make a decision most women in the US are faced with. Do I go back to work or stay at home with my son or find something in between? It’s a cross road in the middle of a woman’s life that potentially shapes her future (her self, her family, her career, her lifestyle). For me, facing the decision is both liberating and paralyzing at the same time. I feel liberated by the fact that my husband and I are financially secure enough to be in a position where I am able to make this decision. I am sensitive to the fact that in today’s economy this is not a choice at all for some women. I also feel liberated because a decision to stay home with my son and be a full time mom will allow me to do almost anything I set my mind to.
Continue reading ‘Redefining Myself as a Mother, Wife and Citizen’
After writing a multitude of short stories and three novels, it seems to me that women-in-conflict is a subject matter that interests me. Each of my books has two female characters central to the story’s theme and usually those two females are at odds with each other. “Bobby’s Diner,” my latest release, shows two unrelated women in conflict with a man at the center of their ire.
Continue reading ‘A War of Women by Susan Wingate’
September 16th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Cool Stuff, Lifestyle by America's Next Top Blogger | 2 Comments »
By Lynn Cull
Hello everyone. My name is Lynn and I am the mother of two beautiful daughters ages eight and three. My eight year old recently came to me with the desire to play softball. So, one day after school I took her up to the local park get some information on try outs. Much to my surprise there were no try outs. All she had to do was sign up. No one knew what her strengths and weaknesses were so how were they supposed to know what position to play her at? Well, she wanted to play so I signed her up.
Continue reading ‘How Is It Fair…?’
September 15th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Love by America's Next Top Blogger | 1 Comment »
By Martha Copeland
Let me direct your thoughts to this scenario. Six months ago you were in a hospital for 18 hours, in pain and feeling typically horrible. After 4-8 weeks your pain finally is gone, but there’s a new problem… you’re completely incapable of sleeping a full night. Four months later, you are finally getting a solid night of sleep, it feels amazing, but don’t think you’re out of the woods just yet. Now you are diligently trying to safeguard your home, one slip up could be disastrous. While it may not sound like it THIS is the time of your life. The investment of time and money is more than anything else you will do with you life, however, the return is so much greater! You have the privilege every morning to look upon an angel’s sleeping face, and smell the sweetest fragrance. When you hold said baby in your arms you know that you’d do it all over again; pregnancy, labor, sleepless nights, just for one more second with your beautiful child.
Continue reading ‘The Time of Your Life, Don’t Be Overwhelmed’
September 13th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Cool Stuff, Lifestyle by America's Next Top Blogger | 6 Comments »
By Rachel Draker
Odds and Ends… its the title of a chapter in Anne of Avonlea and when I picked up my tattered copy the other day I noticed those three words were underlined. Why? Because my life is full of them. I stick out. I am Hawaiian/Irish/Native American.
I am a contradiction. When I was seven I asked my Grandmother how to describe my nationality for a project in school and she said, in a tone of reproach – “Just say you’re made up of odds and ends and leave it at that.”
Continue reading ‘Odds and Ends’
September 12th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Love by America's Next Top Blogger | No Comments »
By April Williams
Last night one if my ten year old twins told me that he noticed a new number when he was going through my cell phone. I stood there in shock and dread hit me like a cannonball in the gut. I realized that I am raising my children to think that it’s normal for a mother not to have an “opposite sex relationship” outside of being a good mother. His tone and demeanor suggested that I was in trouble for having a male name in my phone. Where is the boundary between mothering and answering to that inner woman? Why is it that some of us feel like we are bad mothers for wanting to date sometimes? I asked a few parents and the response I got was encouraging and fair. There has to be an understanding with children that they are always first and will continue to be, but mom or dad will have to have time for other adults.
Continue reading ‘The Big Balance’
September 10th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Love by America's Next Top Blogger | 2 Comments »
By MaryAnn Feudale
Just recently I have joined the ranks of the “empty nesters”. My daughter moved out this past April, and that was because of the birth of her daughter. I found out that my daughter was pregnant last August, and though it is a time of joy, it became a source of a lot of harsh words, blame throwing, and tantrums, all on my end.
Continue reading ‘Empty Nester’
September 10th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Love, Wellness by America's Next Top Blogger | 1 Comment »
By Debbie Cluff
I was reading a recent post on twitter which said a SAHM wanting to be a WAHM. I thought those were the strangest acronyms and quickly googled them to see what they meant. I guess SAHM means “Stay at Home Mom” and WAHM is a “Work at Home Mom”. Having just gone through the program created on www.powerstrategies.tv I have now have officially become a WAHM. Amazing that finding one program, a program that actually supports being a WAHM and will discount their program because they see value in who I am, can change my life. I know you have heard this a million times, but Kim Power Stilson is the real thing and she really wants Women, Small Businesses, and Stay at Home Parents to become successful and accomplish their dreams. So about the business I have…
Continue reading ‘How To …’
September 10th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Wellness by America's Next Top Blogger | No Comments »
By Andrea Coley
Most of my days are clouded together in a fog that has not risen in a very long time. I hear talk about having a “fulfilled” life and I wonder what does that feel like. My life is good. I don’t have financial wealth, but I am happily married to a wonderful man who adores me, is kind to me and is the father of our two healthy, actively beautiful boys. We are not faced with any major financial or health issues. Continue reading ‘Motherhood’
September 6th, 2008
Posted in America's Next Top Blogger, Cool Stuff, Lifestyle by America's Next Top Blogger | 1 Comment »
By Dolores Garcia
“That baby should be inside, its too hot”
“Tell your parents to put socks on your feet, you’re gonna burn!”
“Don’t put her there, its too hot”
“Don’t put her there, its too cold”
If these words were to come from my mother, I would listen. Continue reading ‘The Other Mothers’