Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Woman to Woman: Stay At Home Moms

Reported by:

Beatriz Canals

Producer:

Ivonne Amor

Archived Reports:

It's probably the toughest job in the world -- you get little recognition, there's no sick time, days off or vacations...It's the life of a stay at home mom. Last week we talked Woman To Woman about working moms. Tonight, the hardships of staying home and the rewards which can pay off in the long run.

(WSVN) -- Nanny nightmares caught on tape...

Daycare abuse stories...

Frightening events that have scared some women, into staying home, leaving their careers behind.

It's the choice former network television producer, Terri Dawson made after going through eight nannies in six weeks.

Beatriz asks, "You had a successful career, you were a producer in television for years. Why give it up? Why make the decision to stay home?"

Stay at Home Mom, Terri Dawson, says, "I would come home from work every night crying after seeing the way my baby was or wasn't being taken care of."

Now, this mother of five boys is among 30 percent of this country's stay at home moms.

Terri says, "Let's go get the shoe. Yeah, shoe."

For Terri, mornings start at 6:30am... And don't end until bedtime.

Terri says, "We just go, go, go after I drop off at the schools, I run around with the baby, and I do my errands, the dry cleaning, the bank."

So why stay home?

Many couples make the choice early on, deciding they want mom to stay home full time to raise the kids, but for some couples, it's more a matter of money, with most daycares costing anywhere from 300 to 400 dollars a month per kid, to have mom work, just doesn't add up.

But psychotherapist Lori Pink says some stay at home moms can still feel overwhelmed.

To avoid that, always ask for help.

Lori says, "It would be really great if dad offers to do something like let me watch the baby and go take a bath."

Also.. don't isolate yourself.

Join a stay at home mom group.

These families, from the cooper city moms club, meet at least once a week.

Jeri Gumbinner of Cooper City Moms Club, says, "It helped me to get out of that seclusion because you can get secluded when you're a stay at home mom just starting out and making that transition."

Denise Jones of Cooper City Moms Club, says, "You just need to know that somebody else has been there, and can either give advice or lend an ear."

Minimize distractions, like the telephone when ever possible.

And experts suggest a night out without the kids.

Lori says, "One night out with the girls, you know, you're doing it, is a wonder, does a world of good."

And -- the most important thing is remembering why your staying home.

Terri says, "I look back with fond memories of what I did, but I wouldn't trade this for anything right now."

"I'm here with them and I know what's going on in their life everyday and I think that's important."

One more tip.. while this job won't get you a paycheck... You can reward yourself..

Depending on your financial situation.. it could be anything from a massage once a month to a sweet treat -- like ice cream. Choose something you wouldn't normally splurge on.

There are also stay at home mom websites offering advice, budget strategies-- even free coupons.

We're talking Woman To Woman, but men, remember if it's about women, it's bound to affect you.

FOR MORE INFORAMTION:

Contact: bcanals@wsvn.com

LORI PINK/LICENSED PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Center of Psychological Effectiveness

300 NW 70th Avenue

Ste. 302

Plantation, FL 33317

http://www.solutionsnottalk.com

954-583-8831

MOMS CLUB INTERNATIONAL/COOPER CITY MOMS CLUB