Q: What do you do in your new job, mommy?

A: Well, I’m with an organization called Samaritan’s Purse and I serve as the NW Regional Manager for Operation Christmas Child.

Q: Yeah, but what do you actually do?

A: I manage a network of volunteers that spans several states. My job is to recruit, select, equip, and lead this network of volunteers with the end in mind of having those leaders multiply themselves and develop even more volunteer leaders.

Depending on the ages of your little ones, the words "family" and "vacation" seem more like an oxymoron... you know, opposites?

I have a new respect for the women of the 1800’s who ventured out west in unchartered territory with their husbands and children to make a new home for themselves. Judging by my first few days on the road from the South to the Pacific Northwest, I would not have made it. And neither would my family.

WANTED- New Best Friend- LOCATION: Memphis. The previous person who held this position was smart, and funny and a beautiful women inside and out. We laughed, we cried, she held me accountable. We shared a hatred for relationships that are needy or filled with drama. We both value quality above quantity when it comes to friends, and made time of each other even at our busiest times. We saw each other for who we are and loved each other anyway. She is the wife, mom and professional women I want to be when I grow up. All applicants must have the above characteristics plus PROMISE NEVER TO MOVE.

With 2012 coming to an end, I find myself looking back at all my blogs this year and feeling overwhelmed with all the helpful products I’ve learned about this year -- from the PsiBands and the Colic Cradler, to the Intone and the Dreemie Preemie,  2012 has been quite the year for new and practical baby/childcare products! But looking back, I feel as if there were a couple must-have products that are truly special but I haven’t given the scoop on them – how rude of me!

The Hardest Job EVER!

Raising a family is, by far, the hardest job I’ve ever had.  I had no idea it would be harder than negotiating multi-million dollar contracts for a commercial airline or starting three different businesses—all were tough but in comparison to raising 2 boys, they were cake-walks.  I thought motherhood would be joyful, but it sucked.  Surely, I was doing something wrong.  

How do you handle telling your kids tough news? Do you treat it like an employee performance discussion at work where you wait until the right time to spring it on someone where the pain will be minimized? Many managers I know used to wait until Friday afternoon to deliver bad news to their staff so that the manager wouldn’t have to witness the aftermath. Others took the approach that it needed to be delivered immediately, regardless of the day and time. Then there were those that delivered the news over lunch-hoping that food would ease the pain.

Breakfast Hero

Save The Morning / Save The Day

Hero:  Someone who comes to the aid of another or puts her personal values into civic action.  Heroes risk personal harm to save the day.

Why it’s important:  Our heroes clarify and define the values we choose for ourselves.  Character is shaped by personal values. 

Although the speed of the runners, myself included, was average for a 5K run, nothing about the commitment of the late Michael Daly’s friends and family was anything but exceptional. They honored the life of their brother, son and friend with their walk/run benefit to cure juvenile diabetes.

By Joy Rose, Founding Director Museum Of Motherhood, NYC

Engaging students, volunteers, academics and experts has proved to be the secret ingredient for our 501c3 non-profit survival at the Museum Of Motherhood during our start-up year. Salaries are often limited or non-existent, but enthusiasm runs high and there’s always a collaborative energy circulating throughout the gallery space and programming efforts.