5 Reasons We’ve Already Started Saving for College

My girls are young, but like most parents, I’ve already started thinking about the day they’ll leave me to go to college.

And sometimes just thinking about it makes me panic. Not because I’ll be an empty nester but because, oh my gosh, college is expensive!

While I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t predict the future, I am still planning for their future college attendance. Here’s why.

1. Kids Who Go to College Earn More

It’s common knowledge that people who earn college degrees tend to earn more than those who don’t. But I was startled to learn just how much more.

According to Higher Ed Dive, “Individuals with bachelor's degrees will earn $400,000 more in their lifetimes than those with just a high school diploma.”

The same report claims, “College graduates who enrolled at age 18 and earned a degree in four years ‘can expect to earn enough relative to a high school graduate’ by age 33 to make up for paying tuition and other costs and for being out of the workforce while in college.”

Of course, I will support my daughters even if they don’t go to college, but those numbers are a great motivator for saving for college.

2. Money Grows

College is a long way off for my two girls.

But that means it gives the money I put into their college savings accounts even more time to grow.

For instance, money in 529 plans grows tax-deferred until the day comes when you need to withdraw it to pay for education expenses.

Plus, with a 529 plan, family and friends can also contribute.

Sure, it may sound boring to give a financial gift to a 529 plan while the kids are young, but their future selves will thank you!

3. College Costs are Rising

College costs are rising at crazy rates.

Check out these statistics from U.S. News representing the rise in college costs over 20 years:

• The average tuition and fees at private universities have jumped 144%.

• Out-of-state tuition and fees at public universities have risen 171%.

• In-state tuition and fees at public universities have increased 211%.

I don’t even want to think what college will cost when my girls are old enough to attend, but I know enough to know I need to start saving now.

4. Makes Saving a Habit

I learned early on to treat saving like a habit.

I like to set aside some of every paycheck for savings. What I like even more is setting up savings for automatic contributions, so I save without even thinking about it.

It can be really tempting to not save – especially for things like college that seem so far away.

Turn saving into a habit so you don’t give in to temptation.

5. Helps You Set Realistic Expectations

Lastly, saving for college early helps you set realistic expectations.

We all have different incomes and budgets. Only you know what you can and can’t afford.

By saving today for tomorrow, you’ll be better prepared to talk to your kids about how much you will be able to help them when the time comes.

5 Ways to Show Support During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been celebrated every October since 1985. The goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to teach women about breast cancer and promote early detection methods.

If you are an American woman living in the United States, you likely know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.

This is because 1 in 8 women in the U.S. is at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

According to the National Breast Cancer Coalition:

• In 2020 there were 684,996 deaths from breast cancer globally.

• Excluding basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S.

• Every thirteen minutes, a woman dies from breast cancer.

• As of 2019, there were an estimated 3.8 million individuals living with a history of breast cancer in the United States.

Even if you haven’t been affected by breast cancer, these numbers show that breast cancer is a real concern for many women, and all the more reason we should support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Wear Pink

October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month are synonymous with the color pink.

According to Cancer.org, “During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and throughout the year—people wear pink ribbons to honor survivors, remember those lost to the disease, and to support the progress we are making together to defeat breast cancer.”

The simple act of wearing a pink ribbon shows your support. You may even want to have a “wear pink” day to show support in the office or the classroom.

Get a Mammogram

Possibly one of the best ways to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to take care of your own boobs.

If you are 40 years old, it is time to start your annual breast cancer screenings.

If you are under 40 years old and have a risk of breast cancer due to family history, your doctor may want you to begin annual screenings.

Don’t worry! Mammograms are not as scary as you think they are!

Participate in an Event

There are tons of Breast Cancer Awareness events, such as fundraising walks.

By participating in these events, you raise money for cancer research and show your support for those who have suffered from breast cancer.

Plus, many of these events give you a firsthand opportunity to meet breast cancer survivors and hear their powerful stories.

Donate to a Chemo Ward

In addition to donating financially to a research group you trust, consider donating physical items to a local chemo ward.

They are often in need of blankets, scarves, hats, and pillows for patients.

Create a Fundraiser

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also an opportunity to make your own fundraiser. Facebook makes it easy to donate to a charity you support and encourage your followers to participate.

In addition, you can create your own fundraisers, such as a pink lemonade stand or a pink fashion show for the ladies in the neighborhood.

What are you doing to raise awareness? What are you doing to take action for yourself?

7 Ways to Teach Kids About Money

Kids really seem to believe money grows on trees. Unless parents teach kids about money, they’ll be in for a rude awakening.

According to Bankrate, “Only 16.4 percent of U.S. high school students are required to take a personal finance course” and “84 percent of respondents agreed that high school didn’t prepare them to handle their money.”

I don’t want my girls to leave home not knowing how to handle their finances, which is why I am being intentional about teaching my kids about money.

Here are 7 things I am doing to teach my girls about money.

1. Talk to Your Kids About Money

The first thing I had to do was get over being uncomfortable talking about money. In America, talking about money is so taboo. But, if we don’t talk to our kids about money, who will?

Start by simply explaining that money doesn’t grow on trees. Explain that you work to get a paycheck. Then, you use the money from your paycheck to pay for the things you need, such as utilities. You’ll probably discover your kids are surprised to learn you have to pay bills for things like water and electricity.

Then, explain that you use the remaining money to pay for the things you want, such as vacations and toys.

2. Give Your Kids Opportunities to Earn Money

Teaching kids about money requires hands-on learning opportunities. This means that you need to give them opportunities that model how money works.

Instead of just giving them money, give them an opportunity to earn money, such as doing chores or hosting a lemonade stand.

3. Discuss Opportunity Costs

Start explaining that every “yes” means a “no” to something else even when kids are young. Even as an adult, this is a hard concept to understand! When we say “yes” to one activity, it means “no” to another activity.

The same applies to spending money. If my daughter spends her money on a pricey toy, it means she won’t have money to spend on a different one.

4. Show Your Kids Your Receipts

There is a surprising amount of power in showing kids your receipts. Again, this is uncomfortable at first. But, receipts make money tangible.

For example, kids don’t realize how quickly things add up. Show kids your receipt from stopping to get fast food so they can see how each small meal adds up.

5. Play Money Games

Teaching kids about money doesn’t have to be boring. Pull out some classic board games like Life or Monopoly. In addition to requiring kids to use math, these also teach important financial habits.

6. Teach Kids How to Shop the Smart Way

I love shopping – and so do my girls! But I am trying my hardest to teach them how to shop smart.

Whenever I can, I point out sales and discounts.

Similarly, I also encourage my daughters to do price comparisons. For instance, if they see something they “have to have,” I’ll make them wait and look it up online to see if they can find it cheaper somewhere else.

7. Get Them a Kid-Friendly Debit Card

I am a big fan of kid-friendly debit cards like Greenlight. These cards are connected to a parent’s bank account and put parents in control. With the cards, I can control where they shop and how much of their allowance goes into spending, saving, and giving.

Plus, my girls feel so grown up using their own debit cards when shopping. They take great pride in shopping with their own money.

What tips do you have for teaching kids about money?

Yes, You Do Need to Start 2021 Christmas Shopping Now

I’ve always been a proponent of getting your Christmas shopping done by Black Friday at the latest, but 2021 Christmas shopping is proving to be even more challenging.

You’ve likely heard reports from the news about toys possibly running out. As much as you want to believe news organizations are just exaggerating, that is not the case. There is a very real possibility that popular items, even clothing, will run out.

This is all because producers and retailers are still dealing with lingering supply chain issues. Those issues aren’t going to be solved by Christmas.

This is what you need to do to get your 2021 Christmas shopping done early.

Major Shipping Delays

There will be major shipping delays across the country. In fact, there are huge shipping delays even getting stock into the country.

According to Andy Harig of the Food Marketing Institute, “The wait to get into the port at Long Beach [in California] is almost eight days, and we have 56 ships backed up at any given time. There are reports of container ships turning around and not even waiting to get refilled.”

Within the U.S., shipping companies are facing major setups, as well. For instance, the Portland Oregon FedEx facility is currently 65% staffed. They are having to reroute 25% of the volume from its hub by using third-party transportation, which raises costs all the way around.

You also should not expect Amazon's two-day delivery services to work like normal.

Shop online early to guarantee your gifts will make it on time.

Price Hikes

The cost of shipping is forcing retailers to also raise their prices.

ABC 7 NY reports, “Toymaker Mattel whose brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and American Girl, said in an earnings conference call on Tuesday that it is raising prices in the second half of the year in the run-up to the holiday shopping season.”

What that means for moms and dads is that we shouldn’t wait for a big sale to shop for Christmas presents. Prices won’t be slashed like normal.

It’s a better idea to purchase that hot item when you see it rather than waiting for the price to drop.

Things to Consider When 2021 Christmas Shopping in October

For most of us, it seems early to start 2021 Christmas shopping. But, as you see, this year it is a must. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start shopping for Christmas before Halloween.

• Check Out 2021 Christmas Shopping Guides – Many of the Christmas wish list guides have already been published. These guides highlight what will likely be the items your kids want that may run out. Start with Amazon’s Toys We Love List.

• Consider Out-of-the-Box Options: Since the shelves may be empty, consider out-of-the-box options, such as season passes to the zoo, enrollment in an Outschool course, or gift cards to your child’s favorite shop.

• Think About Storage: One of the issues with shopping this early is having to keep the gifts hidden until you are ready to put them under the tree. Go ahead and have a plan for where you can safely store the gifts until the time comes to pull them out.

• How to Handle Late Santa Requests: Kids don’t care about supply chain issues. They want that special toy. This year, they may not be able to get it. Start thinking about how you will handle late Santa requests, such as telling your kids the elves had to quarantine and can’t make that gift in time.

Why You Need to Book a Trip to The Ritz-Carlton Aruba

My family just returned from an amazing trip to The Ritz-Carlton Aruba. From the time we arrived on the property, I felt catered to and pampered. In other words, exactly what every mom needs!

The name Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with class and luxury, and the Ritz-Carlton Aruba lives up to its name. You can trust me on this. I have traveled the world, and I can tell you this resort is unforgettable.

Aruba is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with white sand and crystal clear water. It looks like a postcard! 

Visiting such a beautiful place and staying at such an amazing resort should go on your family’s bucket list ASAP. Let me tell you some of the reasons why. 

The Amazing Views

Aruba is beautiful. Full stop. 

Add in a glamourous resort with well-designed views and you have a winner. The Ritz-Carlton Aruba is a stunningly unique beachfront oasis that also exhibits the diverse influences of the vibrant culture and treasured history of Aruba.

The views from Palm Beach are stunning, and fortunately, we even had these views from our hotel room. 

I’m talking Instagram-worthy views for days!

We woke up to gorgeous beachy sunrises and went to bed listening to the ocean. 

We were also blessed with amazing weather during our trip. That is no surprise - Aruba has more sunny days than anywhere else in the Caribbean does! 

Delicious Dining

As a mom, nothing says vacation like not having to cook. 

At the Ritz-Carlton Aruba, not only did I get out of cooking, but I got to enjoy delicious food.

We ate at BLT Steak, which is a take on an American steakhouse. The steak and seafood there was to die for! 

We also enjoyed Solanio, which is where the resort hosts its breakfast buffet. This restaurant is ideal for families because there is something even for the pickiest eater. 

There are several other restaurants on-site, including a sushi bar: The Divi Sushi Bar & Lounge.

An Exciting Kids Club

In my family’s travels, we’ve found that advertised “Kids Clubs” are hit or miss.

I’m happy to report that Ritz Kids was a huge hit with my girls!

Ritz Kids is designed for kids 4 to 12 years old and offers a variety of themed games and activities, many of which teach kids about Aruba.

My girls loved getting to participate in fun hands-on learning activities and spend time crafting.

In fact, they begged us to go to Ritz Kids and were sad when we said we had to do some adults activities.

Pool and Beach Amenities – Including Luxury Cabanas

Another huge selling point was the swoon-worthy cabanas your family can reserve.

We did this and it was over-the-top amazing!

Not only did we protect our skin from the hot sun, but we also got to lounge around in a beautiful spot while dining on fresh food platters.

We all felt like celebrities. Personally, I would live in that cabana if I could. 

While you must reserve the cabanas, there are plenty of chairs for guests.

Plus, they offer a wide variety of non-motorized water sport activities, such as paddle boarding, snorkeling, and water hammocks.

A Dazzling Casino

I can’t talk about the Ritz-Carlton Aruba without mentioning its awesome casino. It is, by far, one of the nicest I have been to in a resort.

This sparkling space has 15 traditional table games, slot machines, and more!

Plus, they host live entertainment and complimentary beverages in the casino.

Our time spent in the casino was full of wins and fun.

Health and Safety

I’ll end by addressing the elephant in the room – the worldwide pandemic. Yes, my family traveled during the pandemic, and I am happy to report it is possible to do it safely. 

The Ritz-Carlton Aruba is currently open to international guests, but pay attention to government travel requirements before you book your visit. For example, all guests who enter Aruba are required to provide a certified negative PCR test.

As a mom, this actually made me feel better. Yes, it is an extra “thing to do,” but it ensures everyone at the resort is healthy. 

Truthfully, I felt safer at the Ritz-Carlton Aruba than I do in many places back home in the States!

Here are some of the other things the resort is doing to keep guests safe and healthy:

• Face coverings are required in all indoor locations

• Occupancy limits

• Contactless check-in and mobile service requests

• Enhanced cleaning protocols

• Hand sanitizing stations

• Electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectants

• Temperature screenings

• On-site testing for guests who need a negative test to reenter their home country

The Ritz-Carlton Aruba was sparkly clean and everyone working there kept their distance while still making sure we had everything we needed to have a dream vacation.

As you plan your family’s vacations for 2021 and 2022, be sure to put the Ritz-Carlton Aruba at the top of your list! 

8 Fun Ways to Spoil Your Pup During National Dog Week

Did you know that National Dog Week is this week?

This annual celebration of dogs, which takes place the last full week of September, began in 1928.

After the WWI war hero returned home, Captain Judy began publishing Dog World magazine and then designated the last week of September to man’s best friend.

According to Dog.com, Captain Judy believed “a week-long celebration was the least that could be done to recognize the service and the unwavering loyalty of man’s best friend.”

For those who follow me on Instagram, you know that our family gained a four-legged family member named Milo last year.

Since Milo’s first birthday and National Dog Week fall back to back, I feel like it is the perfect time to spoil him a bit!

And because I know all of our dogs become family, I thought I’d share my ideas with my fellow dog lovers.

Take Your Dog on a Car Ride

A quick and easy way to bring a smile to your dog’s face is to take him or her on a car ride. Recently, Milo went with me to pick the girls up from school. It was a treat for him and my girls! They were delighted to see him in the carline… and he was delighted to hang his head out the window.

Buy a New Toy

Milo has plenty of toys, but National Dog Week provides the perfect excuse to get him a new toy to destroy. Just no toys with squeakers!

Splurge on a Pet Resort and Spa

There are some amazing pet resorts that cater to dogs, such as New York Dog Spa & Hotel. These unique facilities offer upscale boarding, as well as doggie day camp and grooming spas. For pups that deserve a bit of pampering and playtime, this is an excellent choice.

Visit a Local Dog Park

If you want to spoil your pup without spending any money, plan a visit to your local dog park. Milo loves making new friends at the dog park. He gets excited as soon as he sees the gates!

Eat at a Dog-Friendly Restaurant

When your family heads to lunch or dinner this weekend, choose a dog-friendly restaurant. Most of these restaurants offer water dishes, but some even offer doggie treats or specialty dog menus.

Purchase Matching Outfits

I will use any excuse I have to buy Milo a new outfit, so obviously, National Dog Week requires a new outfit or two. I especially love finding a doggie sweater that coordinates with clothes my daughters wear.

Host a Puppy Playdate

Want to be the coolest dog mom on the block? Host a puppy playdate in your backyard! Put out a bunch of tennis balls, sticks, ropes, and maybe even a little pool, and you will have a PAW-TY!

Bake a Special Doggy Treat

National Dog Week is a great time to let your pup have a little something extra, like a pupcake. A pupcake is a cupcake made with dog-safe ingredients. Here’s a recipe from Love from the Oven.

If baking isn’t your thing, you can also purchase a pupcake or cookie from a local pet store or bakery. There is also dog ice cream, such as Purina Frosty Paws, available in most grocery stores – including Target!

How will you celebrate National Dog Week? Let me know in the comments!

5 Things That Steal Your Joy

Life is full of beauty and wonder and joy. But, if you aren’t careful, you will lose sight of it.

We’ve all had seasons in our lives where we’ve suffered and lost our joy. This is to be expected when we are hurting.

However, I believe some people live their lives constantly searching for joy without realizing they are doing things that deplete it.

Take a few minutes today to consider if you are allowing any of these 5 things to steal your joy.

1. Still People

There is a quote that is going around on social media that says, “Make it your mission to stay away from STILL people. STILL making excuses, STILL complaining, STILL hating, and STILL nowhere.”

Toxic people will steal your joy faster than anything else.

As an adult, you get to choose who you spend your free time with. Choose wisely.

Choose people who encourage you and motivate you. Choose people who make you feel better about yourself when you leave, not worse. Choose people who fill you up rather than drain you.

2. Social Media Comparison

Social media is a wonderful way to connect with people. I love it!

But even as a social media influencer, I see the negative side of it. Social media is primarily people’s highlight reels, but our social media feeds trick us into believing this is a daily reality. It isn’t.

What’s worse is that you are comparing yourself to these filtered highlight reels. Life isn’t picture perfect (or even picture worthy) all the time.

If you aren’t careful, you will find yourself comparing your real life to a carefully curated social media feed.

And there goes your joy.

Instead, follow joyful people who inspire you (not those who inspire jealousy).

3. Clutter

I love the feeling of a clean house. I also love shopping. There’s a fine balance between shopping wisely and clutter filling my home.

When my home enters the clutter territory, I start to feel a lot less happy. While shopping brings me joy, a cluttered house doesn’t.

I find this is true in many areas of my life. If my desk is cluttered, I can’t focus on work. A clean desk leads to better productivity.

When my mind is cluttered, I am definitely not feeling joyful. I’m irritated and short-tempered.

4. Comfortable Choices

This is a hard one to accept, but your attachment to comfort may be stealing your joy.

Dr. John Izzo, the author of The Five Thieves of Happiness, says comfort is “holding on to outdated practices that may have worked in the past.”

For example, have you ever not taken a chance because you were comfortable?

Have you continued wearing clothes long past their due date simply because they’re comfortable?

Have you gotten stuck in a rut because you got comfortable?

It happens.

Take time to assess your comfort levels and consider whether they are helping or hindering you.

5. Temporary Fixes

Many people make the mistake of seeking quick fixes for happiness. They live in an “if/then” world.

If I get a new car, then I’ll be happy.

If I find a different job, then I’ll be happy.

If I go on that trip, then I’ll be happy.

And, sure, you may be happy when you get these things. But it isn’t lasting joy.

Lasting joy comes internally, not from one-time experiences or purchases.

My joy comes from my family, my friends, my pup, and the stories I’ve tucked deep in my heart.

Where does your joy come from?

8 Tips to Make Mornings Easier

For years, mornings were chaos in our household. Between getting myself ready for work and my girls ready for school, there was always something being forgotten, and I always felt rushed. There was frustration and tears regularly. I finally said, “Enough is enough.” I needed to take back my mornings, so this is what I did.

1. Pre-Pack Lunches

Instead of trying to get the kids dressed and make lunches in the morning, I started pre-packing lunches the night before. As my girls got older, I passed this chore along to them. This one little trick saved us so much time in the mornings!

Bonus – we also winded up packing better, healthier lunches because we weren’t rushing and just throwing anything into the lunchbox.

2. Get Clothes Ready Ahead of Time

Similar to pre-packing lunches, I now get all of our clothes laid out ahead of time. I’m talking everything – down to my daughter’s underwear and accessories. I’ve seen some moms use a set of plastic drawers or a hanging closet divider to put together an entire week’s worth of clothes for this purpose.

3. Keep a Notepad by Your Bed

Every night before I go to sleep, I take no more than 5 minutes to jot down my to-do list for the next day. I do this for two reasons.

#1 – It helps prevent me from losing sleep thinking about what I have to do the next day.

#2 – When I wake up in the morning, I can quickly glance at the list to see if there is anything that must be done before I leave the house in the morning.

4. Make an Easy Breakfast

One thing I can count on is @justcrackanegg Omelet Rounds in the mornings! My daughters love the All American and the Classic omelet rounds.

All I have to do is remove the film, pop the tray in the microwave for 50 seconds - then let it sit for 2 minutes and my daughters can enjoy them straight out of the package or on the go for a quick breakfast snack!

Doesn't get easier than this and I can focus on getting ready for work!

5. Use a Better Alarm

If you hate waking up to an annoying beeping alarm clock, change it up! Everyone dreads that harsh beeping alarm. Instead, find a song that you love (that you won’t sleep through) and use this as your alarm. I guarantee you’ll wake up happier.

6. Say No to Devices

I’ll just admit it. I used to have a bad habit of checking my phone before I went to sleep and as soon as I woke up. This didn’t do me any favors. It did the opposite. I wasted so much time that could have been better spent. So now, I don’t open my phone in the mornings (besides turning off the alarm and checking the time).

7. Have a Designated Drop-Off Spot

After spending way too many mornings rushing around trying to find missing shoes and lost school papers, I created a designated drop-off spot for shoes, bookbags, purses, and keys right by our front door. It took just a few days for my kids to get in the habit of using this spot and it has made a huge difference!

8. Get Yourself Ready First

My final tip is a simple one – get yourself ready first. Just like you are told on a flight, you need to put your own oxygen mask on first. This may mean you have to get up earlier than your kids to get ready, but it will be worth it.

12 Parenting Tips for the Middle Years

I am right in the middle of middle childhood, which is defined as ages 6 to 12.

There is a lot of information out there about how to parent babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even teenagers.

But, there is not nearly as much out there about raising children during their middle childhood years.

And, I sure wish there was more available because I am currently living with a 7-year-old who thinks she is 17!

According to On My Way: A guide to Support Middle Years Child Development, “Middle childhood is a period when children are exploring who they are and who they want to be, establishing basic skills and health habits, grappling with puberty, physical changes and gender roles, making friendships and forming attitudes about the world they live in, and taking first steps toward independence.”

With a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, I need all the help I can get with parenting during the middle childhood years!

Here’s the best advice I’ve found.

1. Allow Some Independence

Middle childhood is all about growing independent, so it’s time to let go a bit, Mom. As they get older, let them do things without you.

2. Make Them Responsible

Along with independence, look for opportunities to teach your kids to be responsible. An age-appropriate way to do so is to start having kids do chores around the house.

Another way to teach responsibility is to encourage kids to take ownership of their schoolwork. Let them complete homework and projects independently and accept responsibility when they make mistakes.

3. Talk and Talk Some More

Open communication goes a long way during these years of growth. Kids are soaking up everything they are hearing during this stage, so you want your positive, helpful, caring voice to be the loudest of all.

4. Teach Healthy Habits

Middle childhood is critical when it comes to teaching healthy habits because kids are learning more independence. They need to know how to take care of themselves (such as personal hygiene, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep).

5. Listen Rather Than Lecture

We want to give our kids advice to succeed, but when advice-giving turns to lecturing, your kids will stop listening. Instead, give your kids ample time to explain their reasoning and talk about what is going on in their lives.

6. Set Realistic Expectations

We want our children to be successful. However, we need to make sure the expectations we set are realistic and reasonable. If you set goals and expectations that are too hard for a middle age child, he or she will feel defeated.

7. Support Their Strengths

Children in this stage are learning their strengths and weaknesses. When you and your child identify a strength, encourage them in this area.

Children.gov suggests, “Acknowledge what children are good at, and support them in doing those activities as often and as well as possible. Use the things they are good at, whatever those things might be, to help them build their self-confidence.”

8. Read, Read, Read

Even as your child reads independently, look for opportunities to read together. Choose chapter books that interested you at their age and share the stories with them.

9. Show Affection

The days of easy affection with your child will eventually come to an end, so take advantage of this stage when they are growing independent but still want (and need) hugs.

10. Have Fun Together

Many parents find they love the middle childhood stage because it is fun! Kids are just starting to be able to do fun activities alongside you, such as riding roller coasters and playing board games.

11. Start Some Traditions

The childhood memories your child will cling to really start to form during this life stage. So, this is the time to start embracing family traditions, such as family dinners and annual visits to apple orchards.

12. Praise Them Constantly

Last but not least, go out of your way to praise your child! Their self-esteem is developing during middle childhood, and you can help give it a boost by showing them they are loved.

What Working Moms Need and Want in 2021

It’s no secret that 2020 was a beast of a year for working moms. All at once, the balance we fought so hard for as working moms was upended and we found ourselves back at home trying to do everything all at once. It was simply too much.

According to McKinsey’s 2020 Women in the Workplace report, “One in four working women in North America said that they were considering downshifting their careers or dropping out of the workforce entirely. For working mothers, and particularly those with young children, the number was one in three.”

That’s a problem – not just for working moms but also for companies. McKinsey explains, “We know that women’s advancement in the workforce matters; companies with more women executives are more likely to outperform those with fewer senior women.”

So, now that we are halfway into 2021, what do working moms need and want as they return to the workforce? This is what I’m finding.

Remote Work Potential

I’d be lying if I said I wanted to work remotely forever. I love my kids but going to work is kinda nice.

However, as a working mom, I need and want the ability to work remotely as needed. Kids get sick, get quarantined from school, and need someone to stay with them on teacher workdays. Not having to take off work to be with them and still get some work done is ideal.

We’ve seen it’s possible, so now we want it.

Meaningful Work

One thing the stress of working in 2020 taught me is the importance of meaningful work.

Being forced to go into the office for something pointless was a waste of time and super frustrating.

Larina Lee explains in Forbes, “In a hybrid world, put more intentionality on what’s done in the office and what’s done remotely. What are the meetings that have to be in person? Signal to people when it matters. The hardest thing for a working mom—everything’s an emergency.”

Employers need to provide working moms with meaningful work and be intentional with their requests.

Positive Work Environments

Another thing working moms need and want is a positive work environment. We don’t want to work in a stuffy workplace with hostile employees.

Our time is valuable. We don’t want to dread going into work, and the best way to do this is to make us WANT to go into the work.

Inc. reports, “academic studies suggest that employees who feel more positive emotions at work are more engaged, and thus, are less likely to leave the organization.”

Supportive Employers

I love this quote I found on Working Mothers: “You’ve never met a loyal employee until you’ve met a working mom with a great boss.”

Supportive employers make all the difference for working moms. We need a boss who will listen and be empathetic.

Unsupportive employers are feeling the loss of many outstanding female employees. According to Indeed, “70% of the women who cut hours or quit report a lack of support from their employers when juggling work and home life during the pandemic.”

In contrast, the majority of women who continued working during the pandemic reported their managers were sympathetic to challenges, patient, and offered emotional support (sometimes as simple as just asking employees what they could do to help).

Are you feeling the same way? Have what you need and want from your job changed over the past year? Share your thoughts!