Advice to Employers: Please Create Policies Assuming All Worker Are Single

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Me and my daughter Motherhood is harder than it needs to be. This is partially because of the inexcusable work/life policies in the U.S., but also because of our own outsized expectations. We are living in an age when the ideal mom is a mash-up between the helicopter mom, the corporate exec, and the earth mama — and there's just not enough high-efficiency, low-emissions biofuel to go around.  –Elissa Strauss,  Why I don't want 'mom friends' We just celebrated "Mother's Day" and honored mothers and other women who help make the world and our families a better place. Every year at this time, I think about what mothers really need to be successful and independent. I say, "independent" because developing policies and legislation that are premised on the notion that all working moms have supportive families and/or spouses is not in the best interest of working moms. Instead, Corporate America and Congress should develop policies and legislation that p
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One of the Most Perfect Gifts for a Child, A Loving Auntie

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As every women knows, you don’t have to be a mother to love children.  The New York Times ran an article recently called, “Holiday Bonus: A Beloved Aunt With Cash”. It profiled Melanie Notkin who created Savvy Auntie (www.savvyauntie.com). It’s a site that establishes a community for women without children.  They can network with other aunties, find events and get help finding perfect gifts for the nieces, nephews and god children in their lives.  

I think that Ms. Notkin is a genius! In this age of hustle and bustle what auntie couldn’t use a little extra help???
 

Aunts are very special people.


When I was growing up, I especially loved hanging out with my mother’s friends who didn’t have children. I thought they were so glamorous!


They treated me like a small person as opposed to a silly child who needed direction. I was able to drink out of good glasses and eat exotic foods like falafel and hummus. They also burned incense and asked me my opinion.  As a little girl I thought they were so glamorous. They wore flowing clothes, had arms full of bangles, and always seemed find something to laugh about. I wanted to be just like them.

My daughter is blessed to have similar women in her life.  My sister and friends are the kind of women that I would like for my daughter to become. They are gorgeous, accomplished and generous. They dote on her. They create special games for her. Even though she’s only two they treat her like a little lady.  
 

Aunts Help Balance Mothers


They also balance me. For example, my sister gave me a book about potty training and it include an inscription that reminded me that every child is different. Sometimes as a mother, I get so caught up measuring my daughter's progress on the "milestones"--walking, talking, potty training--that I forget that she has never taken this journey before and that she will accomplish these tasks in her own time. However, her aunt makes me remember.

These women, these aunties, who love children with all of their hearts, give great gifts and tell the children that their parents were not born lame… They are so important in the lives of children it’s about time that they got recognized!

Thanks to all of my daughter’s aunties.  She is truly blessed to have all of you. http://savvyauntie.com/defaulthome.aspx

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    Comments

    Unknown said…
    I am an auntie and I love it!!! Good Post!
    5:56 PM
    Anonymous said…
    Auntie's are indeed wonderful things! My father (and his sisters) were older. These special ladies were a combination aunt/grandmother. They had dinner parties and were settled down enough to enjoy sharing stories with a chatty little girl. I find that I emulate them with how I approach life and my nieces and nephews.
    7:42 AM
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