Working Mom Diaries

Kids speak up!

So what do our kids think really about our jobs?

Billy, age 5: "I hate it. It makes her nuts. Last week at my birthday party, instead of hiring a clown, she tried to entertain us by demonstrating how she juggles work and home."

Sarah, age 3: "I love it. She's showing me the ropes. I'm wearing power jumpers and learning how to say 'I need it yesterday.' "

Drew, age 6: "I don't like my mom working. Sometimes she freaks out. Last week she told me to clean my room or I was fired."

Okay, so that was a joke. Have to start the week with a smile!

Yes, we're thinner than we thought!

Good news: the Scientiific American reports that working moms tend to be healthier than people who have no jobs or no kids.

So the stress isn't killing us. It may actually be forcing us to take better care of ourselves -- or at least, watch our weight. The study found that working moms have the lowest incidents of obesity. Could partially be linked to the way we crash diet the minute our suit feels a little too snug. (Cheaper to lose weight than to buy another suit, right?)

Announcing... Momworks

Get out the popcorn! Working Mom magazine's sister media company, the Lifestyle Channel, has a new parenting show called Momworks! It's hosted by Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, and filled with great information on balance, discipline, money management -- you name it. 

The episode replays several times in one week so find the schedule that fits yours:   Wednesday, 10:30 pm; Thursday, 3:30 am and 3:30 pm; Saturday, 11:30 am; Sunday, 11:30 pm.

You could call Momworks as Working Mom's TV component. Really cool synergy -- all so we can serve your you see us on print, on air, on ground (through events like our quarterly parenting workshops), and (through this blog) on the web. The marketing gurus call it "multi-platform" but what it really means is that you get us wherever you need us.

So a lot of exciting things are happening. (And no, this is not the special secret that I hinted at a few days ago.) So stay tuned, and pass the popcorn. We're in for a good show.

Best painreliever in the world

Caught the bug that's been going around the office. (Cough, sniffle, sigh.) Went to bed really early, and burrowed under the blankets.

My four-year-old son, Zach, lifted the blanket. "Mama, what's wrong?"

"I'm sick." 

"Ouchie?" he asked. I nodded miserably.

"I kiss it better!" he planted a big one on my forehead. "Still ouchie?"

By that time I was smiling. "Yeah, little bit."

"I give you biiiiiiiiger one!" he said, practically throwing himself on top of me as he tried to kiss, hug and tickle away whatever was bothering me.

And he succeeded. I was still coughing, and congested -- but content.

I love being a Mom.

Crazy ideas

Sorry about disappearing like that.

It's been a craaaaazy week. Sleep at one am, go back to work at 8 am. 

It's always hectic the last few days before we finish a magazine issue, but this was about 10 times worse. Because.... we were doing something really really really really special. I can't tell you yet (ooooh, a secret!) but I can say that when it was finally done, I knew every hour of overtime was worth it.

Don't you just love moments like that? When you have a project you really believe in, and after God-knows-how-many meetings, delays, and schedules-gone-wrong, it all falls into place. And you sit back and think, "Wow. We did it. We finally did it."

Especially since, the last two weeks, I was seriously kicking myself in the butt for even attempting the project. I wanted to sleep. Eat a normal lunch. Watch Kung Fu Panda with my kid without my cell phone going off every 15 minutes. But noooo, we had to have this Big Idea. (And most ideas look so much easier when it's on paper.)

But when the Idea Actually Happened...wow. I felt so damn good.

I guess the point of this blog entry is... listen to your Crazy Ideas. And when you find one that's worth your time (one that keeps coming back no matter how many times you shove it away), roll up your sleeves and say, "Let's do it." After all, some Crazy Ideas have changed the world. (Thank you to the man who thought up Indoor Plumbing.) At the very least, it will change you. 

And a toddler saves the day

Here's something cute to start your week with: a toddler singing Hey Jude.  He must be two? three?  But he's lisps through the whole song. Amazing.

My niece showed me this video after I had one of the Craziest Fridays Ever. Came home in a foul mood and wallowing in a cess pool of self-pity. But five notes into that You Tube video and I was laughing.

There is no mood so bad that it can't be fixed by a singing toddler, dontcha think?

Scrapbooking Challenge: First Day of School

Scissors ready? Inkpads within reach? Join the scrapbooking contest hosted by Working Mom magazine and Lasting Impression.

Theme: Make a scrapbook layout about the first day of school. Format must be 12 x 12 or 8.5 x 11. Include your thoughts on this question: "What's the one thing you want your child to learn this school year?"

Eligibility: Use at least one Stemma paper, available at lastingimpressionph.com, in your layout (the papers will be sold at 20% off during this period). All employees of ABS-CBN Publishing, its subsidiaries, and Scrappin' Moms can participate but are automatically disqualified from winning.

Prize: Overnight stay for two at Paradizoo Theme Farm in Mendez, Cavite. Winners will be announced on July 10, 2008 in this blog.

Submission: Email your layouts and proof of purchase to wm.challenge@gmail.com on or before June 26, 2008, 12 midnight. Files must be 300kb or less. Please include a short profile in your email: your name, age, number of kids/ages, and a description of your typical day.

Additional reflection points: No these are not required in your journaling! But they're worth thinking about, even if you're not joining the contest.

1. Why does this lesson mean a lot to you?

2. How are you teaching it? Think of 5 simple things you can do to reinforce the lesson at home. If it's really that important to you, then get involved!

Happy scrapping!