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Rosie to the Rescue: The “Choice” To Work Or Not

May 24, 2013 at 2:38 pm , by

Rosie Pope

Check out blog posts by multitalented mompreneur Rosie Pope every week at Parents.com!

I met a woman today who was beginning her last day of work. Her son had just turned 11 months old, and she had decided that her job just wasn’t flexible enough for the work-life balance she wanted with her child. So after almost a year of angst, she decided to take the leap and put her successful career on hold.

I know a lot of women, and increasingly more men, who have made this decision, often to their surprise, after going back to work once their babies were born. I thought for a moment about what it would be like to decide not to work any more and to stay home with my three babies.

And that’s when it hit me, surprisingly for the first time! I realized just how impossible that would be for me and, I imagine, for so many of you. I can just imagine walking into our HQ and into my husband’s office (yes, we work together), sitting on the couch, and saying, “Honey, today is my last day.” Aside from immediately pouring himself a stiff drink, he would also have to find my doppelganger—not an easy feat considering I may be the palest person to have ever walked the planet!

But in all seriousness, our company is still very much at the point where I need to continue working at it, and my kids rely on it for their livelihoods. If I am completely honest with myself, though, the lack of choice made me panic, and, in that moment, I felt more trapped than I have ever before. Until I remembered… I actually enjoy my job and feel so blessed to be able to do what I do. (Not to mention the look of complete panic on my husband’s face when I threw the idea around the office in jest!)

But what about all the men and women who don’t enjoy their jobs and can’t make the choice to stay home for financial or other reasons? I started to feel trapped and panicked for all of them. It is not that either staying at home or working is better; it is simply that we’d all hope to be able to make that choice for ourselves and our families freely and not because of reasons like dollars and cents.

I meet many moms and dads who struggle with this; yet, I am often humbled by the businesses these individuals have started that allow them to work from home, or the ingenious ways they have structured their schedules to try to fit everything in. It is important, though, to know this goes both ways: There are stay-at-home moms who want to go back to work, just as there are working moms who want to stay home. The sad truth is that the choice is just not always there.

While I’m not in the position to choose not to work, it is my goal that all my hard work will mean that my daughter and sons will be able to have the choice to work or not when they get to be parents themselves one day. Working in part for “choice” (because I love what I do) and in part for my children relieves my panic. Being able to make a change for the better and for those that you love is empowering, and so, perhaps for a moment, I’ll stop freaking out!

10 Female Celebrity Breadwinners

May 24, 2013 at 11:46 am , by

This post was written by our friends at Celebrity Baby Scoop.

Mama brings home the bacon.

A recent survey found that more half of American women were considered the primary breadwinners in the family. So let’s take a look at 10 celebrity moms who cash in at higher levels than their partners, from Jessica Alba, to Julia Roberts, to Gwen Stefani.

Jessica Alba:
Jessica Alba – mom of daughters Honor, 4, and Haven, 1 – has an estimated net worth of $20 million. While her husband Cash Warren is a Yale graduate and film producer, Jessica rakes in millions for her movie roles, and is now the co-owner of the Honest Company.

But Jessica is sure to give her lower-earning husband credit for her ongoing success. “My husband Cash has been integral in my development as an entrepreneur,” she said.

Bethenny Frankel:
Former Real Housewives of New York star and SkinnyGirl Cocktails founder, Bethenny Frankel, pulled in a cool $12 million last year. The television star and entrepreneur – mom of 3-year-old daughter Bryn – has an estimated net worth of $25 million.

Bethenny’s estranged husband, Jason Hoppy, has a much lower income as a pharmaceutical rep. Perhaps this was an issue in their “miserable” and short marriage?

Gwen Stefani:
British rockstar Gavin Rossdale and his band, Bush, broke up in 2002. But his rocker wife, Gwen Stefani, continues to be the front woman of No Doubt. And not to mention, she created her successful clothing line, L.A.M.B.

In 2008 alone, the mom-of-two earned $27 million. With an estimated net worth of $80 million, the mom of Kingston, 7, and Zuma, 4, really knows how to rake in the dough.

Drew Barrymore:
With her acting career and successful production company Flower Films, Drew Barrymore earned $12 in 2009. And her estimated net worth is a whopping $125 million.

Although Drew’s new husband, Will Kopelman, is an art advisor and no stranger to wealth (he is the son of former Chanel CEO Arie Kopelman), his paychecks pale in comparison to those of his famous wife.
The pair are new parents to 7-month-old daughter Olive.

Reese Witherspoon:
With an Academy Award and numerous hit movies under her belt, it’s no surprise that Reese Witherspoon – mom of Ava, 13, Deacon, 9, and Tennessee, 7 months – has an estimated net worth of $80 million.

While she was once wed to fellow actor Ryan Phillippe, and recently dated fellow A-lister Jake Gyllenhaal, she is now married to talent agent Jim Toth, whom does not earn multi-million dollar paychecks like his famous wife.

Jessica Simpson:
Jessica Simpson is one of the most famous singer-turned-entrepreneurs of all time.
The expectant mama has a lucrative fashion line, a Weight Watchers deal and a hosting gig on TV’s Fashion Star, making her estimated net worth around $100 million.

Meanwhile, her fiancé Eric Johnson, a former NFL player, is not bringing home any known revenue at the moment. The couple expect their second child within weeks, and they are already parents to 1-year-old daughter Maxwell.

Kelly Ripa:
She’s a former soap star that turned into a successful talk show host, holding her own next to Michael Strahan.

But Kelly Ripa - lucky in love after 17 years of marriage to her All My Children costar Mark Consuelos – is also incredibly wealthy, worth an estimated $75 million.

With Mark taking on the occasional hosting gigs, Kelly rakes in the dough for Mark and their three kids: Michael, nearly 16, Lola, nearly 12, and Joaquin, 10.

Natalie Portman:
Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman has been called one of Hollywood’s most “bankable” actresses.

Her husband, ballet choreographer Benjamin Millepied, recently landed the new role of Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet. But Natalie – mom to 1 1/2-year-old Aleph – is still the main breadwinner, with an estimated net worth of $32 million.

Mariah Carey:
Nick Cannon reportedly receives $70 thousand per episode of America’s Got Talent. But that does not even compare to his wife, Mariah Carey, and her reported $18 million salary to join American Idol.

As one of the most successful female recording artists of all time, Mariah is worth an estimated $500 million, making her more than capable of providing a luxurious lifestyle for the couple’s 2-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe.

Julia Roberts:
Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts was ranked the fifth highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2011 and regularly pulls in double-digit figures for her movies.

After meeting on the set of 2000′s The Mexican, Julia and her hubby, cameraman Danny Moder, have welcomed three children: 8-year-old twins Finn and Hazel and Henry, 6.

But although Danny also works in the film industry, he doesn’t even come close to his wife’s estimated net worth of $140 million.

Celebrity Baby Scoop is one of the most popular blogs on the topic and the foremost provider of everything celebrity-baby, featuring baby fashion, baby names, baby trends and up-to-the-minute celebrity baby gossipand pics. Get all the latest news, updates, and photos about Hollywood’s most beloved celebrity moms, dads and their babies. Who’s the latest Tinseltown baby? Who’s due next and who just announced a pregnancy? It’s all on Celebrity Baby Scoop.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 24, 2013 at 11:45 am , by

Playground made from trash gets children back in the swing
Ruganzu Bruno and his troupe of fellow eco-artists created a playground made of recycled materials to raise awareness about environmental degradation. (via CNN)

Pregnancy Hormone May Predict Postpartum-Depression Risk
Levels of a stress hormone released by the placenta could predict a woman’s risk of developing postpartum depression, new research suggests. (via Yahoo! News)

NYC School Principals Send Letter Refusing To Consider Recent State Test In Fall Admissions
Principals around New York City are fighting back against what they see as flawed state tests. (via Huffington Post)

Report: Nation’s kids need to get more physical
The prestigious Institute of Medicine is recommending that schools provide opportunities for at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day for students and that PE become a core subject. (via Yahoo News)

Parents Argue School Is Violating Separation Of Church And State
Does teaching yoga in public schools violate the separation of church and state? That’s what two parents are contending in a lawsuit against Encinitas Union School District in California. (via Huffington Post)

American Baby’s Baby Booty: Win a Pair of Toe Blooms

May 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm , by

I am mildly obsessed with baby feet. Why must they be so chunky and squeezable?! I didn’t love them so much until I had my own babies; now I can’t get enough of them. 

When I learned, last summer, that there are things called Toe Blooms that can make little feet look like they have flowers on them, I cracked up. And I also learned that “barefoot sandals” are a real thing, like for adults too. But I like the baby ones best.

Cut to this summer…I’m happy to say that four lucky babies will get a free pair of Toe Blooms (most popular with the girls) or Toe Buds (aimed more at little boys). Winners can tell us which they’d rather, flowers or flair! Each set is worth $20-$24.

For a chance to win, leave a comment below, up to one a day, between now and the end of the day on Wednesday, May 29th. We’ll randomly choose four winners. If you comment, you should check back at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, to see if you’re one of our winners. You’ll then have 5 days to send a direct message to American Baby magazine’s Facebook page to accept the prize. (We’ll also send Facebook messages to the winners, but note, our messages fall into your “other” message folder on Facebook, which can be a bit hard to find!)

You can read the official rules here. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. And goody luck!

 

 

 

 

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 23, 2013 at 10:41 am , by

 

Doctors Save Ohio Toddler By ‘Printing’ Him An Airway Tube       
In a medical first, doctors used plastic particles and a 3-D laser printer to create an airway splint to save the life of a baby boy who used to stop breathing nearly every day. It’s the latest advance from the booming field of regenerative medicine, making body parts in the lab. (via Fox News)

Preschool Reportedly Bans Imaginary Superhero Play
Superheroes may no longer be making appearances in this preschool classroom. An unnamed preschool recently sent home a notice to parents, explaining that their children’s “dangerously overactive” imaginations were forcing the school to ban some forms of imaginary play in the classroom, according to a post on Reddit. (via Huffington Post)

‘Boys Will Be Boys’ in U.S., But Not In Asia
A new study shows there is a gender gap when it comes to behavior and self-control in American young children — one that does not appear to exist in children in Asia. In the United States, girls had higher levels of self-regulation than boys. (via Science Daily)

Kyle Davis, Plaza Towers 3rd Grader Who Loved To Sing, Among Oklahoma Tornado Victims
Nicknamed “The Wall,” 8-year-old Kyle Davis loved soccer and going to Monster Truck exhibitions at the fairgrounds with his grandfather. JaNae Hornsby, 9, loved to draw, sing, and be a big sister and cousin to her younger relatives. The two were among the young victims of Monday’s monstrous tornado, their small bodies pulled from the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School after it was reduced to a massive heap of bricks and twisted metal. (via Huffington Post)

Chicago School Closings Vote: Board Of Education Votes To Shutter 50 Public Schools
The Chicago Board of Education voted Wednesday to close fifty Chicago Public schools, one of them delayed a year, in the nation’s third-largest district making it the largest single wave of planned public school closures in U.S. history. After the vote, few schools were spared from the list of 54 schools originally proposed for closure. (via Huffington Post)

National Geographic Bee Puts Mass. Student On The Map
Quick question: Name the peak in Ecuador with a summit that marks the point farthest from Earth’s center due to our planet’s bulge at the equator.If you were Sathwik Karnik, a 12-year-old from Massachusetts, you’d know the answer is Chimborazo, and you’d have won the National Geographic Bee along with a $25,000 college scholarship. (via Washington Post)

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Take Control of Asthma

May 22, 2013 at 5:05 pm , by

Watching your child struggle to breathe is one of the  scariest things that a parent can endure. And for parents of asthma sufferers, this can be a constant looming threat.

Winter or spring, indoors or out, active or still, asthma triggers are everywhere. The list of culprits includes pollen, cold air, secondhand smoke, mold, dust mites, pet dander, and many more. And an average of one out of every 10 school-aged children has asthma, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. So how can you keep your kids safe?

In honor of Asthma Awareness Month this May, the EPA is offering free literature for parents and children to learn more about asthma and ways to control it. I especially love the adorable picture book, Why is Coco Orange, in which Coco the chameleon and his friends learn about air quality, and how to stay healthy when the air quality is bad. Coco’s friends also learn to get help when they see Coco struggling to breathe, and Coco learns to sit down and use his inhaler when his asthma is triggered.

Along with these publications, the EPA also offers an Asthma Action Plan that breaks asthma symptoms into green, yellow, and red zones, and provides a list of ways to control things that make asthma symptoms worse.

Dr. Claire McCarthy provides some great tips in her article How to Manage Your Child’s Asthma. As an asthma sufferer myself, I thought that I knew all there was to know about the disease, but I was surprised to learn that minimizing the use of antibacterial products and antibiotics can help reduce the risk of developing asthma.

Although there is no way to prevent the development of asthma, a solid plan of action can be a breath of fresh air for you and your child.

Parents Daily News Roundup

May 22, 2013 at 10:56 am , by

Oklahoma Schools Lacked Consistent Tornado Shelter Rules
The two elementary schools leveled by the deadly tornado that swept through the Oklahoma City area Monday lacked designated safe rooms designed to protect children and teachers, despite state warnings that the absence of such facilities imperils lives. (via Huffington Post)

Surgery Offers Mixed Benefits For Kids’ Sleep Apnea
A new study has confirmed that removing the tonsils and adenoids of children with obstructive sleep apnea can reduce sleepiness and improve the quality of life, but putting off the surgery might not hurt either. (via Reuters)

Chicago School Board To Vote On Mass School Closing
The Chicago Board of Education is due to vote on Wednesday on a controversial proposal to close 54 schools in the country’s third-largest public school district in what would be the largest mass school closing in the nation. (via Reuters)

Aggressive Behavior Linked Specifically To Secondhand Smoke Exposure In Childhood
Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in early childhood are more likely to grow up to physically aggressive and antisocial, regardless of whether they were exposed during pregnancy or their parents have a history of being antisocial, according to Linda Pagani and Caroline Fitzpatrick of the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine hospital. No study to date has controlled for these factors. (via Science Daily)

Common Core Clash: AFT President Fires Back At State Education Officials
The head of a major teachers union fired back Tuesday at state education officials who had dismissed her call for a moratorium on stakes associated with new standardized state tests in public schools. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said Chiefs for Change, a small group of state education officials, was distorting her call for a moratorium on the use of new standardized tests based on Common Core standards to evaluate teachers and students. (via Washington Post)

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Summer Reading Lists-Activity Guides, from Lego Duplo and the ALSC

May 21, 2013 at 1:09 pm , by

Lego Duplo Read Build PlayLego Duplo’s “Read! Build! Play!” initiative strives to develop early literacy and strengthen learning through their Read and Build series of simple story books paired with easy construction activities.

Last year, Lego Duplo and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) partnered to create resources that combined reading and play. “Through play, young children learn about their world. With this knowledge, they can understand books and stories once they begin to read,” says Starr Latronica, Vice President/President-Elect of the Association for Library Service to Children.

This summer, Lego and ALSC have created the first Summer Reading Lists/Activity Guides for toddlers and preschoolers. Two free guides (one for Ages 1-3, one for Ages 3-5) pairs 10 already-published books with Lego projects designed specifically for each one. The books, easily available at local libraries, were chosen by ALSC’s Early Childhood Programs and Services committee.  A Parent Activity Guide is also available for free, to explain the importance of play and to offer advice on how to interact with kids.

Parents can preview a list of the chosen books below and click on the jump to see a photo of the suggested activity for Meeow and the Pots and Pans by Sebastian Braun. Visit ReadBuildPlay.com to download the entire activity guides (which includes the full lists of Lego projects with instructions, plus coloring pages).

Ages 1-3

Ages 3-5

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