Category: Working Parents

The role of a mother in the family has changed a lot over the last few decades. The impressive amount of social change in the last ten years has left many of us wondering how a person a could even define a family, let alone describe the role of a mother.

If we’re going to keep up with the times, we have to at least give thought to the paradigms that are constantly shifting in our lives. We’re going to take a look at how the role of the mother has turned into something different from what it was only a few decades ago.

The New Role of a Mother in the Family

The old world seemed like it was set in stone. Gender roles dominated a lot of the decisions that people got to make, especially women. The structures of society had been molded into barricades that kept individuals in tiny lanes.

The mother used to stay at home and tend to the children while the father worked. Mothers were seen as emotional supporters, destined to cook and clean while dealing with all that comes with parenting children. Fathers had the option to be as involved as they wished to be.

Parenting styles were also predetermined, and stepping slightly out of line in the way you raised your children was strictly frowned upon. Something has changed, and there is a lot to celebrate. If you’re in the position of being a new mother, sites like Kiindred can help you navigate the waters.

What is the Role Now?

It wouldn’t be accurate to say the gender roles of parents have been turned on their head. It’s more like the rules were just lifted, not reversed, and we see a lot of mothers following their dreams, raising their children, being the breadwinners, and kicking a lot of butts.

Where mothers used to be required to do literally all housework, it’s now something that no one is required to do. If anything, husbands should do that because, well, why should mothers?

It seems the absurdity of strict gender roles has been eliminated for a couple of reasons. First, research is growing which shows that gender is a social construct and roles that go along with it needn’t be strictly followed or followed at all.

We are gaining an awareness that all people should have whatever freedom they wish so long as the children are being raised well. Parenting is hard, and the only healthy way to raise great kids is by doing it as a team. When one person slacks, the other has to work harder, and this creates resentment.

We’re seeing an increase in parents working together out of respect. This is really broken the shackles and brought parents to an even plane in many cases, and this is something to celebrate.

Looking for a Community?

When you’re feeling like nobody gets your struggle, take the time to find an online community to relate to. Whether you’re a new mom or your kids have gone off to college, there’s not a reason that you have to feel alone.

The role of a mother is complicated, ever-changing, and challenging. If you’re looking for any great ideas from a great community of women, we’ve got the information you need.

If growing your career often requires you to check your bags and add to your frequent flyer miles, you’re in good company. Thousands of career women jet set from one side of the country to another for meetings and conferences.

Although traveling for your job can be an exciting alternative to sitting in an office all day, it doesn’t come without its risks. Women, in particular, are more likely to be at risk when traveling solo. And though we wish it wasn’t so, it’s necessary to take certain precautions as a female traveler.

To make the most of your travels, and feel more comfortable doing so, here are 5 safety tips for women who have to work remotely:

Do Your Research

Before you visit a new area, make sure you understand the local customs and laws. Some gestures carry different meanings in other regions and you don’t want to offend anyone.

Take the time to research religious or political events that are happening during your visit. By having an idea about your surroundings, you’ll be better prepared and able to decide which areas to avoid and which events you might want to attend.

Share Your Schedule

Before you leave on a work assignment, let a trusted friend or family member in on your schedule. Tell them where you’ll be staying, who you’ll be with, and how they can contact you.

Keep in mind that your cell phone service might not always be great, so it’s good to share all the details you can in case of an emergency.

Use Technology to Help You

Keep a copy of important documents such as your driver’s license or passport on your phone in the cloud. This way you can still access the information should you lose your bag or wallet.

Apps such as “Find My iPhone” are useful in locating your phone if you lose it.

Safety Tips for Women Including Exuding Confidence

If you become lost, try to keep your composure and not appear scared or vulnerable. Maintain a confident energy so that you don’t come across as someone who can be taken advantage of.

Potential attackers look for women who appear busy, inattentive, intoxicated, or vulnerable. Be careful about who you accept help from. If you do get lost or need help, seek out a nearby business owner or law enforcement officer.

Protect Yourself with Self Defense Products

Basic safety while working remotely includes the use of self-defense products. These include pepper sprays, stun guns, hidden camera, tasers, and more. Suppliers such as “TBOTECH” carry a full range of self-defense products to help you travel in safety.

Learn More About Smart Traveling

Now that you’ve learned some of the most important safety tips for women who travel, can you think of any others we’ve forgotten? Let us know in the comments below!

Also, be sure to check out these other great articles with advice for traveling smart, whether it’s a solo trip, a family trip, for work or for pleasure!

In her article entitled “The Toughest Job Of All Is Being A Working Mum“, Sophia Walker dedicates her piece to all working moms. Even having been successful in a competitive and tough business environment prior to becoming a mom, everything changed once that baby arrived.

If you’re nodding your head having had a similar experience perhaps a fashion makeover is not top of your priorities.

Wait just one moment? Making time for yourself is important to your wellbeing. If fashion was important to you prior to having a baby, it can still be part of your life.

Being a working mother means you have to learn new ways of working, new ways of maintaining relationships and new ways of looking after yourself. If being fashionable is one of your interests here are 8 fashion makeover tips for working mothers.

What Is a Fashion Makeover?

A fashion makeover can be everything from a profound re-styling experience with a professional image consultant to a simple change that makes a big difference to your appearance or how you feel.

People at work make conscious and unconscious judgments about you based on your appearance in the same way as they do about your handshake. As a working mother, you balance the need to dress appropriately for work and at the same time deal with the real challenges you have on your time. You want to look good, be in touch with trends and do it with the minimum of stress.

This article will focus on simple and small changes that make a big difference. There are ideas for one-off clothing items and beauty treatments too. Try some and you might enjoy the difference it makes to your life.

1. Tailored Blazer

Working mothers do all kinds of work. If your work involves being in an office environment there is little to compete with sharp tailoring for creating that professional confident image.

A tailored blazer that really fits well can be worn more frequently than you would wear a dress. Coordinate with several pairs of work pants to ring the color changes. Machine-washable materials mean that you can survive both work and travel grime as well as baby finger marks and worse.

2. Knee-High Boots

Sensible never looked so good. Knee-high boots are a great flexible addition to your wardrobe and give an outfit a whole new look.

When the season is colder and you want a comfort as well as stylish, look for a block heel and injected insole. They’re more comfortable and practical than a standard high heeled boot. The equestrian style always looks good with jeans but also works with dresses.

3. Denim Jacket

If you don’t have a Denim Jacket in your wardrobe, get one. How can you not have this iconic item in your collection? A casual jacket like this can change your whole look and it’s a fashion makeover all on its own.

Try it with a delicate dress or pretty skirt. It can create a tougher look instantly. Easily cleaned, looks better the more you wear it and a guarantee against frumpiness.

4. Get a Good Haircut

Have a chat with your stylist about what looks good on you but doesn’t take lots of time to style. A style that falls between your chin and shoulders is not too long to manage but can also be put back into a practical ponytail.

It’s time for a change but if your usual stylist is not coming up with the goods perhaps its time to change them. You want your stylist to put some creativity into this so tell them you want to have some fun with it, be fashionable but also have something that doesn’t become a daily problem.

5. Effortless Eyebrows

When do you have time to work on having perfect eyebrows every day? Eyebrows make a huge difference to your face. They frame your eyes and give expression to your smile.

Eyebrow microblading like that done by Tin & Lash forms long-lasting beautifully shaped eyebrows. It’s a cosmetic technique using micro-needles to create hair-like marks on your eyebrow area. It fades over time and this varies with your skin but they suggest 1.5 to 2 years is to be expected.

6. Lip Makeover

Are you using the best lipstick for creating that perfect pout? You can follow a multi-step process for moisturizing, concealing, lip lining, applying, retracing and glossing. But who’s got time for that kind of makeup fashion makeover?

Find a brighter shade of shimmering gloss and apply it to your lips to lighten up your face easily and create a plumber looking pout. Even a tinted lip balm can be a great way to moisturizing your lips and give them color while saving time too.

7. Moisturize

Good skin is always in fashion. Eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep is the best formula for great looking skin but as a working mom perhaps that is easier said than done. While you are working on getting your diet and sleep right, do moisturize your skin.

The range of moisturizing products is just bewildering. Do they work better the more expensive they are? You might be surprised with the results you can get with simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen.

Olive oil, coconut oil, and almond oil can all have enriching benefits as body moisturizers. Try a little in a small area and test the result. If you must use store-bought lotions and moisturizers use them after a shower when your skin is most able to absorb them.

8. L.B.D.

You are working mother and everything seems to have changed. One thing hasn’t changed. A little black dress looks great on you and it’s always in fashion.

Look for something with a little something distinctive about it. You need a little black dress for the office party, for a girls night out or even for dinner for two after the kids have been put to bed.

Rejuvenate Your Sense of Style

These tips for a fashion makeover are not revolutionary. They are small changes you can make that can have a big effect. Approaching your wardrobe and makeup decisions with this in mind and you can enjoy expressing your identity while juggling the demands of work and home.

For more ideas about expressing your sense of style as a working mother click here.

When you’re looking for work and you make an impression that lasts, it moves you to the top of the list.

What makes it so hard? You only have 7 seconds to get it right.

Making a great first impression is a challenge, but it’s doable. Here are ten reasons you need to make an impression that people respond to–and tips for getting it right.

1. Getting the Job You Want

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for permanent, freelance, or casual work.

You need to make an impression which makes you unforgettable. This doesn’t mean being quirky or weird just so they remember you!

They want to know they can rely on the person they’re hiring. It’s a bonus if you can also make sure they perceive you as a friendly person too. Smile and greet them with a firm handshake every time.

2. Show You Can Manage Your Time

Don’t be late. If you’re late to an interview, this will negatively affect the opinion of 96% of hiring managers.

If you live in a busy city, that’s no excuse. Turning up late shows you didn’t think about traffic or the risk of a late train.

Turn up 30 minutes early if you can. Grab a coffee and take a walk around the neighborhood to mentally prepare for your interview.

3. Body Language Says It All

Your body language says more than you’d like it to sometimes.

Stand upright and go for a firm handshake. Always meet your interviewers’ gaze and smile.

If you don’t do this, your body language could be misinterpreted as disinterest. Slumped shoulders, fidgeting, or staring around the room could lose you the opportunity to make an impression and land the job.

Always be aware of how you hold yourself. Make sure you’re not inadvertently sending the wrong message.

4. Dress to Impress

For most interviews, you’ll need to dress smart to make an impression. In many circumstances, this means a suit or business attire.

Still, do your research. If you’ve found out that a company has a fairly relaxed atmosphere, you might go with a button-down shirt and smart-casual trousers instead.

Be careful of appearing too casual, though. If you dress down too much, what you’re really saying to the interviewer is, “I don’t care about this job.”

Playing it safe is almost always the best option.

5. Think About What You’re REALLY Saying

Like body language, the words you speak often have more than one meaning. They can also reveal things you didn’t necessarily intend.

Half the battle is knowing what questions you’re really being asked. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you messed up, they don’t really want to hear about the time you missed two deadlines in a row.

They want to hear about what you did to make the situation right. More importantly, they want to know how you prevented yourself from making the same mistake again.

6. Make an Impression So People Trust You

Making a good impression is all about getting people to trust you. The signals we send tell other people about how much they can trust us.

Being trusted is always important, but even more so in certain professions. For example, let’s say you’re interviewing for a Skin MD MD laser skin care position (or another position in the medical profession).

The level of responsibility is much higher than some other professions. It’s crucial you get the other person to trust you during the interview.

7. Positive People Make a Positive Impression

Projecting confidence to make an impression really works.

Be upbeat, positive and friendly. Your CV may make an impression too, but no company hires people on the strength of a resume alone.

It’s important to show your enthusiasm and speak about specific things you’d like to achieve in the role. This shows you’ve given some thought to that particular job and you’re not just rambling off a script.

8. Be Personable But Not Overly Friendly

We’ve talked about being positive, both in terms of spoken language and body language.

But now comes a word of caution about where to draw the line. You’re not best friends with the interviewer. You’ve probably never even met them before.

Don’t be overly friendly or too familiar. This can kill your chances as quickly as seeming disinterested. It comes across as rude and presumptuous.

By all means, have a friendly chat, but be very careful about what you talk about.

9. Remember You’ll Be Working with Your Interviewer

The interview process isn’t just about testing your knowledge.

Even if you’re perfect for the job in terms of your experience and qualification, personality matters. The hiring manager wants to know that there aren’t obvious clashes between you.

Be professional and friendly, and try to connect with them on a human level.

10. Relax

If you’re stressed out and nervous, your body language will give this away.

Remember what we said about body language earlier? Try to relax and bear in mind that at the end of the day, your interviewer is just a person too.

If you can make an impression on them as a person (not just a potential boss), you’ll go a long way.

Still Looking for a New Job?

It can take a while to find the right job. Don’t stress about it.

Sometimes you’re just not the right fit for a company. Try not to take it too personally.

While you’re waiting to make an impression, we know money can get a little tight. Why not browse our selection of printable coupons to save yourself a few dollars?

We’ve also got loads of frugal living tips to help you stretch your cash until you land the perfect job.

If you’ve ever considered working towards your real estate license, you’re in good company. As of June 2017, there were a total of 415,458 real estate licensees, including brokers and salespeople.

Even if you don’t have prior experience in the field, a career in real estate is possible for anyone. It’s important to note, though, that passing the exam to get your real estate license does require work.

Choosing to invest the time in getting a real estate license could have a significant payoff for your future and the future of your family. Working in real estate offers many benefits, in addition to a fulfilling career.

Below, we’re reviewing the top reasons why getting your license to work in real estate is a worthwhile investment.

Read on to learn what you can get out of the job, and how becoming a real estate agent can benefit you and your family.

1. Get Access To MLS Deals With A Real Estate License

The ability to legitimately access your local Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, is one of the biggest benefits to getting your real estate license.

If you’re interested in acquiring multiple properties or purchasing a rental property, this could be a huge asset to you. You won’t have to rely on an agent or Realtor to notify you about new deals because you’ll hear about them as soon as they are posted.

That will give you a competitive edge over others in your area who may be interested in similar properties, but don’t have a real estate license themselves. Rather than getting word of a good deal every few months, you’ll have access to all the local deals that are available.

You can make an offer as quickly as possible, and secure the perfect property or properties for your needs.

2. Flexible Income And Hours

While real estate can be a fulfilling career, you don’t have to work full time to make it worth it to get your license. If your goal is to earn a little extra income — rather than to support your family full time — real estate is a great way to accomplish that.

Once you have your license, you can choose how many listings you take on based on your income goals for that month. If you’re saving up for an expensive item or luxury vacation, you can list more houses. If you don’t have any pressing financial needs, you can take a month off.

How much you choose to work is entirely up to you, which also makes it a great career option for parents or anyone who wants flexibility during the day.

A career in real estate is not a 9-5, in the office kind of position. Your schedule will depend on your listings, and while it’s important to be available to your clients, you will still have time during the day to get other things done.

You can also choose to start smaller with fewer listings, and then scale up as you gain more experience and your client base grows.

3. Build Strong Community Relationships

Working as a real estate agent or broker is much more than a desk job. It requires you to be out in your community on a daily basis, which provides you with a great opportunity to make connections and build relationships.

Open houses will give you the chance to meet members of your own community, including your own neighbors and people who are new in town and looking for a home. Your success in real estate can depend a lot on client recommendations and word of mouth, so it’s important to build strong relationships whenever you can.

Networking events will also help you meet others in the real estate industry, who could learn from or potentially work with in the future.

Meeting more people can help you close more deals, but the benefits of being an active member of your community go far beyond business. Through your work in real estate, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know people you would never have met otherwise.

4. Make Dreams Come True

So many of us have the same goal for our career: we want to do something that can make a meaningful impact on another person. Working in real estate can empower you to do just that.

As a real estate agent or broker, you’ll have the opportunity to assist first time buyers, who have been working hard to find American dream homes for their families. You can develop a relationship with your clients that’s hard to find in other fields.

Once you get your real estate license and are working in the field, you’ll find that selling homes is about so much more than the commission. It’s about helping people find a place that’s theirs and making their dream of becoming a homeowner come true.

5. You Can Work Anywhere

Life is unpredictable, and it’s hard to know with certainty where you’re going to be in a year, or five or ten. That’s why a career in real estate is such a practical choice — it can be done anywhere.

Each state does have its own requirements that you’ll have to meet in order to get your real estate license, but once you’ve gotten your license in one state, you’re better prepared to work anywhere.

Working in real estate is also a great way to get to know a new area if you do move. You’ll quickly get a sense of different neighborhoods, and will have many opportunities to meet different people.

Want More Flexible Career Options?

Once you have your real estate license, there are lots of ways you can use it to design a flexible career for yourself and earn additional income for your family.

Having a job where you’re able to work when you want to can be extremely important, especially if you’re also trying to juggle the demands that come with being a busy parent.

For more information flexible ways that you can earn additional income for your family, please contact me at any time.