LilSugar

Did You Take Advantage of Full Maternity Leave?

babysugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Before an expectant working mama checks out to welcome another baby to the world, she usually has a good idea of how much time it will be before she settles back into her desk. In some countries, mothers take the entire first year of their babe's life to stay at home and get to know them. In the States, it's a bit different. While some women have the luxury of taking months off to recuperate from their life welcoming event, others have to jump right back into the game leaving little time for bonding and resting up. While finances, benefits, and childcare are usually the decision makers, many mums are eager to get back to the job for the adult companionship it provides.

So tell mommy, did you take full advantage of your maternity leave?

Are Working Moms Making Women Less Attractive Hires?

babysugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:20 -0800

There's hardly a more exciting time in someone's life than when they discover they are willfully pregnant. Most mamas-to-be want to scream it from the mountain tops but there's usually one ear they'd like to shield - their boss's. Many women try to hide their expectant status until it is blatantly obvious to co-workers and their higher-ups because they don't know how their news will be received. Before she can give a due date, employers' minds are ticking: Who can replace her? Will she come back? Do we even need her? While those are all valid questions, it is often up to the childbearing woman to make those decisions, which is why some are wondering if motherhood is making women more unemployable.

The Vogue UK Editor Alexandra Shulman has sparked a debate that will leave many moms angry and others nodding their heads in agreement. Worried about Britain's maternity leave laws, she believes new mothers may be doing themselves a disservice if they take a year-long leave and then expect to return to the same benefits as before but with lower professional expectations. British designer Anya Hindmarch supports her view. She quips:

If we are not careful (and I speak as a mother and an employer), maternity leave and benefits will become too biased towards the mother and not considerate enough for the employer... In which case, it can start to work against women as it becomes too complicated and expensive to employ them. To me, it shouts of shooting ourselves in the foot.

Do you believe that longer maternity leave and flexible work schedules are working against women in the workplace?

Mama's Hiding Her Pregnancy For a Raise

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:00:04 -0700

Pregnancy is to be celebrated but there are rare occasions when a woman tries to hide her expectant status to reap the benefits of a vacant womb, especially in the workplace. In the "Never Judge a Lady by Her Lover" episode of Desperate Housewives, Carlos gives Lynette a promotion that she initially tries to reject knowing she has two babies in her belly. When the boss man mentions the salary increase, she quickly takes the offer and keeps her mouth shut about her impending arrivals. As he walks out the door, he admits he is giving the job to Lynette because the other candidate appears to be pregnant, making Lynette the more attractive option of the two.

Did you try to hide your pregnancy for job reasons?

Video courtesy of ABC

Keeping Children of Working Moms Fit and Healthy

babysugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:05 -0700

Pack your bags working moms, we're going on a guilt trip. As if there's not enough blame to push on the working mother, a new report came out giving those of us in the work force another reason to feel self-conscience for bringing home some bacon. A British study found that children of working mums spent more time watching television and had poorer eating habits than their peers with stay-at-home moms. While that may be the case, there are ways to skirt that issue. For instance, when I found out my nanny was taking my daughter to the bakery every day for a cookie, I thanked her for the kind gesture and then kindly asked her to refrain from the tasty pastry stop unless it was for a special occasion. Where there's a will, there's a way, which means parents may have to put forth the extra effort to set up guidelines for the caretaker but it is by no means a given that a working mommy's child should be less fit and healthy than its counterparts.

Do you have certain restrictions outlined for your nanny?

Jennifer Garner Talks About Working With Hubby Ben Again

babysugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:40:41 -0700

For many working mamas, the opportunity to dress up and head into the office is about more than just bringing home the bacon. Lots of ladies enjoy the adult company, the mental stimulation, and the break from their home lives. While it may sound like an idyllic opportunity for the whole family to work and play together on a daily basis, many mums and pops may not accept the offer. When asked if she would want to work alongside her hubby on the silver screen again, actress Jennifer Garner told the press:

"The question keeps coming up, and we have literally never spoken about it . . . He's a beautiful director and such a gorgeous writer but, you know, to go to work with him, I would just be like, 'I need to go home to the kids.'"

Could you work alongside hubby?

Did You Skip Work to Take Your Child to Class?

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:20:14 -0700

Back-to-school jitters aren't only reserved for lil ones. Parents can be just as anxious as they prepare for the child's first day in a new classroom.

For working parents, the return to school often involves some calendar choreography to manage work commitments during the same time frame. But for many, it is well worth taking a vacation day to ensure that they can be there to see their tots off and pick them up at dismissal.

With most of the nation's schools back in session, did you take work off for the first day of school?

Kim Clijsters Wins One For Working Mothers Everywhere

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:30:17 -0700

Serve one up for all of the mothers out there. The decision to return to work after the birth of a baby can be hard. For professional athletes, the preparation requires more than just emotional strength but physical preparation.

Once ranked the number-one tennis player in the world, Kim Clijsters retired from the sport in May 2007 with the intent to marry her boyfriend and start a family. In February 2008, she gave birth to daughter Jada Ellie before announcing her intention to return to the tennis the following year.

This afternoon, Clijsters topped Li Na to move on to the U.S. Open's semi-final round for the first time since 2005. After Clijsters's recent win over third-ranked Venus Williams, CBS Sports' Mary Jo Fernandez asked the mother, 26, about returning to work with a child in tow.

Check out what the athletic mama had to say:

On how hard it was to return. I've been working really hard the last 7-8 months, and I'm enjoying it. I think that's really something important for myself as well, as long as I can focus on tennis, but on the outside have fun as well. Tennis is a great sport, but I'm just happy that we can have a family and I can balance both.
On how she balances work and family. We have help, so that's great, but it's fun. . . . To your daughter, it doesn't matter if you win or lose, she's just happy to see me and that's great.
On how she prepared to re-enter the game: I have to admit that I only just started watching tennis at the start of this year, because I didn't really have that much time. With the baby running around, I was just happy to sleep when she was sleeping as well.

View 5 Photos ›

Expand Your Working Mommy Group With The Office Kid

LilSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:00:08 -0700

When a friend returned to work after maternity leave, a couple of her childless colleagues voiced envy of what they considered her "four month vacation." It sounds like they were perfect candidates for The Office Kid ($20). Invented by self-described "20 something childless advertising drones" who were jealous of their co-workers kidcentric excuses for missing work and wondered if the offspring even existed, the create-a-kid kit was born.

Anyone looking to impersonate a parent around the workplace can purchase the starter pack which includes a welcome letter and excuses, a framed picture of the child and art work to display in the office cubicle. For an additional $10, a doctor's note, more artwork or a sports team photograph can be bought.

Mommy Dearest: Working Mom Wants to Help at School

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:00:25 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My son is entering a new school for kindergarten and we have received several notices about the school's parent teacher association. I would love to be one of those mothers who organizes the bake sales and volunteers in class, but I work full time. All of the PTA meetings are held during business hours (immediately after drop-off or before pick-up) and after speaking with the president of the organization, it sounds like that is when the committees meet as well.

I don't want the school or other parents to think that I don't care, but I just don't see how I can become involved. How do you ensure that your child isn't penalized by your lack of participation in school events?

– Non-PTA Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Non-PTA Mommy,

There are a lot of moms in your situation. Perhaps you can speak with the president of the organization and ask about switching a few of the meetings to the evening or join a committee made up of fellow working moms who can get together after they leave the office. If none already exist, start one. Another option would be to set aside some vacation hours to volunteer in your son's classroom or be available to participate in activities that are important to him. Many schools also have weekend events that provide the perfect opportunity for career parents to get involved.

– Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new Community page.

Parenting Via Cell Phone Keeps Moms in Contact

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:00:30 -0700

How did parents manage before cell phones? That was the question posed to me the other night by a friend who called to cancel our mom and tot dinner plans after finding herself in the midst of a work crisis du jour. She relayed a story to which some moms may relate.

After dropping her children off at camp, she phoned the pediatrician to make check-up appointments while en route to the airport. While waiting for her flight to a business meeting, she sat a catalog on her lap and proceeded to place school uniform orders over the phone. After landing at her destination, she fielded several calls from her child care provider and then her own children, regarding a disagreement about whose turn it was to pick out the dinner entree. While waiting on a delayed flight, she recited her daughters' favorite bedtime story over the phone so she could "put them to sleep." Her situation is not ideal, but technology allows this mama to pursue career goals while maintaining constant contact via cell or iChat with her family.