Chaton's World: A Working Mom's Quest for Balance in Stilettos©

Even though Corporate America was designed for men there are a lot of women working and many of those women are mothers. Every working mom works hard to provide for their families. However, it appears that even without adequate support and policies, working mothers are thriving and many are the primary breadwinner for their households.   Below are some articles discussing this topic :         Working moms as primary breadwinners: why the US is seeing so many more Christian Science Monitor "I always thought I'd be working – not just for the financial implications, but because I love what I do," Karen Potter, a mother who works as an endodontist in California , told the Los Angeles Times . When her daughter grows up, "I hope and pray that ... See all stories on this topic » More moms in charge of the wallet pose opportunities, challenges for advisers InvestmentNews An analysis of 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data

Supermodels may be taller than we are, richer and luckier. However, those who have exchanged their stilettos for strollers remind us that motherhood is universal and we are united in this magical journey with all other moms. Supermodels Are Just Like You... Whether you are a supermodel or a stay-at-home mom your toddler may turn on you and embarrass you in public. You may have a day when you rush out the house with crumbs in your hair and spit up on your shirt. You may struggle mightily with potty training your child.  You may even have a few extra pounds left over from your pregnancy...

We live in the city of Pittsburgh . Contrary to what true East Coast people think, Pittsburgh is a real city with sky scrapers and lots of traffic.  Still there is a quaintness about it. Three rivers converge here, which means that we have a lot of bridges. There was a huge steel industry here, which resulted in a lot of beautiful homes and a rich history of philanthropy.  It's the city of bridges and beauty. It is also full of surprises.  Nature surrounds you in Pittsburgh One of the things that has surprised me about Pittsburgh is the nature that exists throughout the city. When I lived on the East Side in Point Breeze when I first moved to town I saw a deer on the lawn when I returned from a party. I thought I was hallucinating until I saw several deer in the cemetery in Garfield one day. In the fall, on my way to work I routinely see wild turkeys near my office in Oakland , not the kind that you buy in the Wine and Spirits store, but the kind that run in front

As working moms, we do more in an hour than most people do in an entire day. Indeed, we maximize our time. One of the ways we do that is we get by on very little sleep. We do it for so long that we start to think of sleep deprivation as normal. We begin to think that "looking good" is the same as or as good as "feeling good". We are drawn to articles that give us tips about how to look younger, well rested, and like we worked out. We believe that looking good is as good as being healthy...   Looking Good Is Not the Same As Being Healthy   In those articles we find what we're looking for. If you have a little time, a credit card and the internet you can invest in the best eye drops, eye cream and concealer that money can by so that you can appear to be well rested. You can also purchase vitamins, drinks, and even special lights that will "give you more energy".  Given all of our demands, who can blame us???   Before I got pregnant

"Necessity is the mother of invention." It has been proven many times, in many industries that checklists are the way to success. Creativity and thinking are necessary, but over time, a list that was created by a team who focused on the best, most efficient way to complete a task generally leads to better results. The reason is because humans are brilliant, complicated and well human.  Sometimes we make mistakes. Checklists are the secret to success, especially for working moms...

Keeping our children safe is every parent's greatest priority. I learned that Pennsylvania is offering free car seat inspections this Thursday, May 23, 2013 on a fellow blogger's site. So, I decided to share that information with you. Please see the links below for additional information. Luv Saving Money: Free Carseat Inspections Statewide in Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Car Seat Inspections: http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/pghbop/Car_Seat_Flyer_2012.pdf   Car Seat Inspections in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Car Seat Inspection and Education Station c/o Special Deployment Division 312 South Main Street (West End Circle) Pittsburgh, PA   15220 Phone: 412-937-3051      The precious cargo protected by a car seat...           Related articles Click It Or Ticket Campaign Aims To Raise Seatbelt Awareness (pittsburgh.cbslocal.com) State Police to Offer Child Safety Seat Checkpoints Statewide as Part of Campaign to Save Lives on Roadway

The Women and Girls Foundation and FISA Foundation present Issue Briefing Addressing Reproductive Health Care for Underserved Populations: Innovative Programming for Incarcerated Women and Minors Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 9 a.m. Calvary Episcopal Church 315 Shady Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Please join us to hear presentations by a panel of experts that will address efforts to improve reproductive health care for incarcerated women and also the rights of minors to access confidential healthcare. Several years ago the ACLU introduced a new program, “Do You Have to Tell My Mom?” to address the complicated legal issues that arise for adolescents who have been sexually assaulted and want to seek treatment, but are afraid or unwilling to involve their parents.  This work was incorporated into a broader initiative that clarified when min

There are days when I think even atheists praise God. Today is one of those days. Yesterday I heard some very disturbing news about a young woman that reminded me of how blessed I am and have been. It’s not that I haven’t had challenges, but knowing about the challenged faced by others has a way of giving me perspective. Counting my blessings Today, I got up and went for a run. The sun is shining, which is always a major event in Pittsburgh . As I ran along the river I really experienced the splendor of it. I noticed the geese, the smells and enjoyed the warmth of the sunshine on my face. With each step my faith was renewed. I don’t know why I am so enormously blessed, but I believe that right thing to do, the only thing I can do is to be grateful. Once my toddler wakes up I am going to hug her hard and enjoy every moment with her—even the crying, whining and potty accidents! (We’ll see if that’s a reality. I am grateful, but I am not perfect.)

As working moms, we need support to organize our lives. One critical part of our lives is enjoying time with our children. However, organizing their activities can be time consuming! Below is a belated Mothers Day gift for my followers in Pittsburgh .  It is two events going on that will be fun for children of all ages. Now, you don't have to peruse the paper looking for things to do this weekend.  You can thank me later!   The Pittsburgh Children's Museum Clifford the Big Red Dog Exhibit 10:00am-4:30pm May 18, 2013 Clifford the Big Red Dog will be roaming the Museum today to greet visitors, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm Bring your camera and get a picture of you and Clifford together in the Theatre, 11:00 -11:30 am, 1:00 – 1:30 pm & 3:00 – 3:30 pm Make art that's big and red in the Studio, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm For more information visit: https://pittsburghkids.org/exhibits/Clifford The Pittsburgh International Children's Festival The Children's Festiva

" Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. " - Erich Fromm   Today, I attended the Central Baptist Church Hat Luncheon. It's an annual event and a splendid affair. My grandmother, as a Deaconess at the church, is a hostess. I love to attend to support her. I also like to people watch. No knock on those ladies who attend the Kentucky Derby , but nobody  knows how to wear a hat better than a Baptist church lady. Besides the hats there is the message. You cannot attend an event sponsored by a church without getting a healthy dose of scripture.   Every day is a blessing. The message today was simple. Being alive is a blessing. Knowing who you are is the secret to experiencing a fulfilled life. And, if you have overcome adversity you should be grateful. And, that gratitude should give you confidence and provide you with the strength you need to endure other hardships. The speaker made another point that resonated wi

An Inspiring Weight Loss Story Linda Campbell (right), 69, wanted a convenient and easy way to lose weight before taking a family cruise to Alaska and decided to join Jenny Craig . After seeing the success of her mother losing 9 lbs.* on the program in one month, Pam Campbell (left), 48, decided to join Jenny Craig herself and the two women began supporting each other’s goals and sharing their successes.    Two years ago, Linda lost her husband to a heart attack, and it deeply affected her daughter Pam as well. After suffering this loss, it became even more important for Linda to take the necessary steps to reduce her own risk of heart disease. The women met with their Jenny Craig consultant weekly and learned portion control and how to make more meals on their own. “It’s a very flexible program. You learn how to eat out, cook on your own, what to do for emotional eating…I loved my consultant,” says Pam. After losing 22 lbs.* on the program, Linda’s BMI is now in a health

As Mother’s Day approaches I find myself thinking about mothers , my own mother, my friends, and myself. Recently, I read an article about Maggie Gyllenhaal who reflected on how judgmental she was of other mothers before she had children and I could relate. Before having children I judged other mothers... Before having children I judged my mother’s parenting ever so critically. She worked during my childhood. Still, I wondered why she couldn’t make homemade Halloween costumes, pick me up from school on time and have dinner ready every night. It never occurred to me that 24 hours is simply not enough time to be a good wife, stellar employee and keep a home like Martha Stewart . Instead, I thought that our lives would be better if only she tried harder. How hard?! As a child, I didn’t quantify such things. I was self absorbed and merely wanted my mom to do more.   Being a working mom has made me humble... Now that I am a working mom, I judge no one. If I see mom with a lit

Whether you are planning a “ Sweet 16 ” or a 50th, people love birthday parties. Here are some great ideas to throw a great milestone party. Sweet 16 Birthday Party A “Sweet 16” birthday is a major milestone in a girl’s life. They are growing up and will want their parties to reflect that level of sophistication. Use invitations, decorations, and favors that make them feel that they are growing up and have moved beyond typical “kid parties.” Set the mood right from the beginning with a sophisticated style invitation. Shutterfly has great birthday party invitations that you and your teen can look at together as you plan her special event. If she would like to get dressed up, go ahead and allow it for this special event, just don’t forget to mention it on the card. Turning 21 Turning 21 is quite possibly one of the biggest of all milestone birthdays . You are finally an adult and while that brings responsibility, it also brings a lot of fun! Turning 21 means heading to t

Last week we took vacation. This week I have been catching up on my work at my "real job" and other responsibilities. My boss has been on a two week vacation. Our vacations actually overlapped. While I was only gone four days, because my boss was gone I feel like it was longer. I actually returned to work one day earlier than planned because I felt the work pile growing! One would think that I actually had more authority that I do given how dependent people seem to be on me. However, perhaps, I am the one with the identity problem. Maybe I am actually in charge, but I don't know it. Wouldn't that be crazy?! I have been really involved in a board that I serve on. We've had meetings, conference calls and assignments since I've been back. Volunteering has never cost me so much!   I have also been slowly unpacking and been somewhat delinquent on that. Andre's clothes and the toddler's clothes are unpacked. I put them away. Well, I had help wit

Français : Poste - États-Unis - Cinco de Mayo (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Efficiency is the secret to success as a working mom. Indeed, the only way to get everything done without losing your mind is to figure out how to streamline your life. Indeed, I spend time trying to shave time off of my commute, my makeup routine and how to make dinner in under 20 minutes. In all honesty, I probably wouldn’t feel as conflicted about my schedule if I only focused on those things I have to do. However, I don’t think that life is nearly as much fun if you only focus on chores. You have got to have some fun too. You can have fun as a working mom too. Even as a working mom, you can make life one big party. It doesn’t mean that every moment will be easy. I used to be a party girl. So, I can tell you that not all parties are created equal. Sometimes the food is nasty, the music isn’t mixed right and the lighting is off. I have also been to parties where I have been bored out of my mind be

Memories of a most traumatic evening... Imagine, blood all over the floor after an encounter between a glass, my daughter's toe and the bathroom tile. It was worse than it looked. However,  there  was screaming and crying. Then, she yelled, "I gotta go!" And proceeded to urinate on the bathroom counter. She was sitting there with her foot under the faucet to stop the bleeding. Then she put her bloody foot in the urine, which likely stung, and that led to more screaming. I was home alone because her father has been renovating his parents' bathroom for two months. It was not a pretty sight and I was scared.

Every working mom I know cherishes the time that she spends with her child(ren) during the weekends. I know that I do.  My workweeks are filled with early mornings and sometimes late work nights. The weekends are different. On the weekends, we have fun! Here's a video of my toddler having fun at the mall recently. ENJOY!!! Toddler at the mall. (Let me know if you like her outfit!)