FindingMe

Marathon Bound!

I turned 40 last year and am NOT afraid to admit it! My younger years were filled with what I'll refer to as "learning experiences" so at 40 I feel very confident and secure in who I've become as a mother, wife, and computer professional...which led me to seek out my latest challenge -- a marathon!

I joined up with a training program sponsored by Easton Rocks (www.eastonrocks.org). Easton Rocks is a local non-profit group dedicated to helping area youth be the best they can be. Each year they sponsor a marathon training program -- they train people to prepare for a marathon and particpants agree to raise $1000 for their cause. This year they partnered with our local YMCA to create a program for kids that I think is truly awesome!

The YMCA is building a new Teen and Family Center with the goal of building "assets" in area youth. These "assets", as defined by the Search Institute, are developmental traits and experiences that give kids the best opportunity to grow up healthy and responsible. For instance, a child who knows how to make constructive use of his time and demonstrates positive values is more likely to be happy and healthy -- both physically and emotionally -- than one who does not. Each child participating is evaluated to determine the assets they are lacking. Staff then works with adult influences in that child's life to build those missing assets. Incredible, right? Who wouldn't want to be involved in something like this?

So, as a marathoner, I'm required to raise my $1,000 contribution to this VERY worthy cause. I'm asking for your help. I'd love to blow the roof off this thing and be the top fundraiser. I think social networking (i.e. the Internet) can do that for me - afterall I am a computer geek. It won't take much either. If each person I'm connected to reaches out to their friends and family and their connections on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc., I can exceed the $1,000 minimum contribution in no time!

Help me prove the power of social networking on the Internet by donating yourself and then sending a link to my runner's blog (http://www.eastonrocks.org/waters-karen).  There is a "Donate Now" button on my site OR you can simply send your check to:

Marathon Rocks
c/o Susan Langfitt
414 S. Hanson St.
Easton, MD  21601

Just don't forget to include my name with your check so it gets posted to the correct account!

Read more about the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets here:
http://www.search-institute.org/assets/

Thanks so much for your support.

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Smile for the day

Today is National  'HOLY COW, YOU'RE HOT' Day! 

Send this to someone gorgeous, but don't send it back to me, I've been getting this message all freekin' day!!!

This made me smile today -- I hope it does the same for you!

Work/Life Balance When Mom is Sick

Where does balance fit in when mom is the one who is sick? In my house, we found out the past two weeks. Work/life balance went out the window – mere survival took complete precedence!

To some extent, we are all control freaks. I am no different. I’m a planner, manager, organizer and when I’m not – things get out of control quickly. When I recently went in for a simple surgery, I made arrangements for the kids to allow myself plenty of downtime to recover. But, when my recovery turned more extensive all my plans went right out the window.

But, you know what I discovered? Everyone survived. The kids got off to school, they got fed, they got their homework done, and they got to bed. Did they do it on my schedule? No. But it got done. And, I got plenty of “me” time to recover. I actually enjoyed the less hurried pace that I usually impose on myself.

Unfortunately, I know things will quickly get back to that rushed tempo we are all used to. I hope, though, that I can take the lessons of the past two weeks forward with me. I think it will make me a better mom.

·         Everything doesn’t always have to run smoothly.

·         It’s ok to walk slowly.

·         Things can work when we do it my husband’s way.

·         My kids are more self-sufficient than I realize.

·         I have a great family.

Break the Perfect Mom Syndrome

One year ago, Brenda Slaby rushed off to work. As the assistant principal at a local middle school, she had many responsibilities on the first day of school. The perfect mom to two little girls, she gladly accepted the schedule change to drop the youngest off at daycare while her husband went to a dental appointment. It was that small change in schedule would alter Brenda's life.

As assistant principal at a local middle school, Brenda had many responsibilities on the first day of school. Her mind was full of tasks that had to get done to ensure a great start to the school year.

At 4PM that afternoon, a staff member found Brenda's baby in the back seat of her car dead.

Ruled an accident, Brenda was left to suffer with her own guilt. Her family never blamed her but her own insecurities and criticism from the community was more than enough. Brenda is breaking her silence now to help us -- other moms who get overwhelmed and caught up in life. She counsels us to slow down and focus on our families.

Read more about Brenda's story at ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=5935342&page=1

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Men Like Nagging -- and don't let them tell you otherwise!

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm a nag. No, I'm not an overworked horse, just a wife who bugs her husband.

For the most part, my bugging revolves around the kids. I bug him about doing family stuff (i.e. work/life balance...hint hint). With his own business out of our house, it's easy to get caught up in work. He spends his days managing his employees so at night he catches up -- sometimes at the expense of the kids. I don't like it, but it's the reality of running your own business. So, sometimes I have to remind him that the computer can wait until after the kids get in bed.

Sometimes, though, I hear my own voice and wonder if all this nagging is ok. Will he get sick of it? Will he come to me one day and say "Oops, that's one too many nags. I'm out of here!" I think I got my answer the other day. After a particular nagging session, I reminded him what a great dad he is and apologized for the nagging. You know what he said? He said, "It's ok. I know I get caught up in my work and I use you as my gauge to know when I'm pushing it too far. So don't stop."

Wow, what a guy. I'm pretty lucky.

Actually, now that I've written all this out, it's more like "reminding". Yes, I like that better. I'm a "reminder".

John McCain and Working Families

Yesterday we reviewed Barack Obama’s stance on issues affecting working parents. Today, we’ll continue with John McCain. McCain has given us more of an overview of issues that are important to him than a specific plan. A main component of McCain’s plan is a commission to bring together workers, employers, labor experts, and academics to make recommendations on how to modernize labor laws.

Leave Time. John McCain supported the Family Medical Leave Act that began in 1993. He does not indicate any changes needed to this Act.

Pay. McCain avoided voting on the Ledbetter Bill which would ensure equal pay for equal work. He supports increasing minimum wage with the stipulation that businesses receive a tax break for the increase.

Child Care. I could find no data on John McCain’s stance on changing or improving child care programs.

Flexible Work Schedules. McCain co-sponsored the Family Friendly Workplace Act. This Act supported flexible workplace scheduling such as allowing employees to opt for comp time instead of paid overtime. It also encouraged employers to allow employees to work more than 40 hours one week and less the next, i.e. allowing workers to get 80 hours of work in 9 days so they could take a day off. He would also support more flexible schedules for retirees wanting to stay in the workforce. His new National Commission on Workplace Flexibility and Choice would attempt to modernize labor laws for more flexible scheduling arrangements including telecommuting.

Other. For McCain, I felt compelled to include this last category in an attempt to be fair. While his policies don’t readily fit into the same categories as Obama’s, he does bring up two issues not mentioned in working family discussions with Obama. McCain wants to make healthcare portable so employees can take it with them when they switch jobs. He would also increase training opportunities to enable workers to advance into new areas if they so choose.

 

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Work/Life Issues on the Campaign Trail

With only 26 days left before the election, I think it’s time to see where the candidates stand on work/life issues. I’ll take each candidate separately beginning today with Barack Obama. I picked a few hot topics in the workplace and will present his campaign’s stand in that area. I’d love to hear from you on whether or not these issues will make a difference in your vote! As an undecided voter, I’m still waiting for that issue that will tip my vote one way or the other.

Leave Time. Obama supports paid company sick leave for all employees. He wants to mandate companies to offer at least 7 days of sick leave for each employee. He has plans to modify the Family Medical Leave Act to include companies with 25 or more employees (down from 50) and expand it to allow leave for elder care, domestic violence, sexual abuse, school activities, and the care of any individual living in your home for more than 6 months.

Pay. Obama would increase the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers making minimum wage to $555 with a bump up to $1,100 if they are paying child support timely. He would raise minimum wage to $9.50/hour with cost of living increases each year. He would introduce a working man’s (or woman’s) tax credit of up to $500 per individual or $1,000 per family. Obama also has a proven record for supporting equal pay for women.

Child Care. Obama believes the Child and Dependent Tax Credit does not adequately assist families struggling with child care costs. He would reform the Act by giving a 50% credit to low-income families for their related expenses. He would also increase funding to support afterschool activities with measures to ensure the effectiveness of such programs.

Flexible Work Schedules. After being raised by a single mother, Obama recognizes the struggle of working parents to balance their schedules. He supports flexible work schedules and has pledged to educate businesses on the importance of flexible schedules for American workers. He promises to assist employers in creating more flexible opportunities with the federal government as a role model.

Stay tuned for where John McCain stands on these issues tomorrow!

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Organization is key to work/life balance

Last night my kids' school sponsored a seminar called “Organized Chaos: Homework, Study and Organizational Strategies for Busy Families”. The speakers were educators from a nearby special education school. For those of you who know me, it’s ludicrous that I would even attend one of these seminars as I am already completely anal about organization. Ok, maybe that’s why I went.

The first statement from the speakers was “You must know your learning style to help you with time management and organization.” This struck me as such a critical component of work/life balance. In order to create balance, you must be organized! They went on to show ways to get your household organized, most of which I am already doing. But, it’s nice to be reminded of the importance of organization.

Here are a few easy tips to fit into your life:

·        Plan Your Meals and Shop With a List. Having dinner ready in the crockpot or at least knowing what you are making alleviates a tremendous amount of after work stress. In turn, this forces you to shop from a list, which in turn makes shopping more efficient, which in turn saves you money! It’s a wonderful cycle!

·        Make Sure Your Kids Know What to Expect. Kids aren’t born knowing how to dust, vacuum, and do the laundry. Show them. This eliminates your frustration when they don’t do it and allows you to focus on things they can’t handle. Doing chores together CAN be quality time! Utilize lists to encourage adherence to morning and bedtime routines.

·        Exercise. Don’t cut yourself short here. For years, I rushed to school to pick up the kids because of working mother guilt – all the while complaining of no time to exercise. I finally realized how much better and less stressed I was when I took the time to exercise. Now I run at least three times a week. I’ve had to juggle the times around my kids’ schedules, but I no longer feel guilty leaving them at child care while I focus on my own health.

These are just a few quick tips of the many I hope to share with you as we try to balance life together!

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