It’s funny because I thought I was ready. I thought I was ready to leave my corporate job and focus on the family. So it came as a shock when I was emotionally wounded by my recent layoff.
The dialog is not new but after searching the internet I found little consolation. It seems that there is the camp that strongly promotes being a working mom and advises you will lose yourself if you do not take this path. Then there is the camp that says you are abandoning your children if you do work. Where are all the people like me? Where are all the people who want both and feel lost?
As I ponder these events I realize it really wasn’t losing the job that hurt. It was saying goodbye to the person I had been - the independent woman who took on a man’s world and won. The woman with confidence to walk into any auditorium and give a presentation that could move people to action. Potty training is the call to action now and I love it. But there is a slight sadness in knowing that I have said goodbye to my youthful, carefree, driven self in exchange for diapers and dishes.
I know there are people reading this who are saying, “Boy how selfish, she really doesn’t get it,” I do get it and there in lies the struggle. I love being a mom! I love art projects and playing in the mud and the baths that follow. I am amazed by my little people and think at least five times a day that these really are the best days of my life.
The opportunity that this layoff provides is invaluable. It allows me the chance to discover who I am as a full time mother (yes, I can do this) and to follow my instincts with my hobby turned heart song the bizzyBee and ChicksWithKidz LLC.
I may not be starting with the exuberance of carefree youth or the size 6 pantsuit that looked sooooo good. But I do have the wisdom of motherhood and the compassion that comes from seeing people with real problems triumph. So in my post partum size 12, I will work to grow the impact ChicksWIthKidz can have on other working moms who struggle when leaving their little ones. And I will continue to try and create solutions for families with sick children who struggle to maintain their routines. But I will also negotiate play-doh wars and navigate through naptimes, and have picnics at the park. Through job-sharing, technology, caffeine, a supportive business partner, and some late nights, maybe, just maybe I can have it all.
-Kirsten
Mother, Entrepreneur
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Welcome to our blog
Welcome to our blog.
Our hope is to provide a forum for mothers, fathers,and caregivers to discuss ideas, share insight and "pay it forward". Neither of us attended Medill school of journalism and we are not psychologists. We are just two women who have cared for aging grandparents and diapered littleones. We will share our experiences, tips and questions with you. Please share back. We need all the help we can get!
Kirsten and Katie
Co-founders ChicksWithKidz
Our hope is to provide a forum for mothers, fathers,and caregivers to discuss ideas, share insight and "pay it forward". Neither of us attended Medill school of journalism and we are not psychologists. We are just two women who have cared for aging grandparents and diapered littleones. We will share our experiences, tips and questions with you. Please share back. We need all the help we can get!
Kirsten and Katie
Co-founders ChicksWithKidz
Friday, July 24, 2009
ChicksWithKidz and the bizzyBee in the news
From kids today - http://www.kidstodayonline.com/article/CA6669443.html?q=bizzyBee&Safety First!
Gerri Hunt -- Kids Today, 7/1/2009
Whether staying home, traveling, playing or sleeping, a child needs to be safe. With so many opportunities for accidents, parents welcome the prospect of extra levels of security. There are many products on the market to ease the load.
The Summer Infant SecureSleep Audio Monitor not only lets parents keep a close ear on baby, but acts as a room thermometer and soft glow nightlight. The unit changes colors signifying if the room is too cold, too hot or just right. With 900MHz digital technology, it has a 650 foot range, $50, 800-926-8627, www.summerinfant.com.
The Fridge Guard Appliance Safety Latch from Parent Units keeps refrigerator doors safe and shut. Made of high-grade durable plastic, it comes in white or clear. Use two on top of a double-door appliance, $8, 732-792-7244, www.parentunits.com.
When a child is placed in his car seat, the Car Seat Monitor from Cars-N-Kids senses the weight and automatically turns on. Whenever the car stops, a lullaby plays about four seconds later, letting the driver know the child is secure in the seat. That’s also the amount of time it takes for a driver to start exiting the car — so the lullaby is a reminder not to leave the child. The monitor also beeps if the child gets out of the car seat, $40, 573-434-2244, www.carseatmonitor.com.
The two-piece Giggle Bug Toddler Tracker from Intelent Technologies helps keep a child from getting lost. With the bug clipped to a child’s clothes, a parent can find the child by pressing a button on the hand-held unit which will make the Giggle Bug emit a loud beep. The clip also has an alarm in case it gets dislodged or removed from the child’s clothing. Its range is 75 to 100 feet indoors and 100+ feet outdoors, $20, 888-682-0353, www.giggle-bug.com.
The ProGrade Front Load Washer-Dryer Lock by Safety 1st locks front load washers and dryers when not in use. Features include a SecureTech locking indicator, easy to mount adhesive backing, and a sleek design that blends with machine style, $17, 800-544-1108, www.djgusa.com.
This Alphabet Magnet from Parking Pal helps keep children safe when they’re around a vehicle. Placed on the car’s rear panel or a door, the child is instructed to stand with their hand on it until the parent tells them it’s OK to move, $8, 540-660-1545, www.parkingpalmagnet.com.
The bizzyBee, by ChicksWithKidz, is a baby data assistant that records, recalls and reminds parents of a week’s worth of baby’s medication (up to six meds), sleep and feeding schedules. It can be uploaded to a computer to view trends and track info for the baby’s pediatrician, $120, 866-936-5439, www.chickswithkidz.com
Protect children from scalds and burns with the Stove Guard from Prince Lionheart. Made of heat-resistant, polycarbonate plastic, it adjusts to fit stoves from 24 inches to 36 inches wide. Mounts on front or top of stove, $25, 805-922-2250, www.princelionheart.com.
The miniature Respisense Breathing Monitor from Infantrust Parenting Solutions clips onto the diaper. It senses baby’s tummy movements and sounds an alarm when motion stops for too long, $140, +27 21 883 9747, respisense.com.Pipila is a portable UV sterilizer from Hygiene Innovations that eliminates up to 99.9% of germs on a pacifier. It takes six minutes from start to finish, $30, 516-671-3135, www.pipilausa.com.
The SeatSnug, by Lap Belt Cinch, easily clips to a vehicle’s seatbelt, and gently secures a child in a booster seat. It substantially eliminates bouncing, rocking, tipping and other movements, reducing potential injuries, $60, 302-234-8110, www.seatsnug.com.
BabyKick is a hand-held portable device by Unisar that helps a pregnant mom keep track of her baby’s movements. Mom presses a button each time the baby moves and BabyKick counts and times them. It stores and recalls the last 10 sessions, counts down the last 99 days of pregnancy, and times contractions when labor begins, $30, 800-233-1196, www.unisar.com.
SafetyMate for the New Parent, by SafetyMate, is a hand-held, interactive talking first aid guide. It has eight themed buttons, which lead to more than 30 first aid issues. English or Spanish instructions walk a caregiver through an emergency situation, $60, 800-439-8995, www.safetymate.com.
Gerri Hunt -- Kids Today, 7/1/2009
Whether staying home, traveling, playing or sleeping, a child needs to be safe. With so many opportunities for accidents, parents welcome the prospect of extra levels of security. There are many products on the market to ease the load.
The Summer Infant SecureSleep Audio Monitor not only lets parents keep a close ear on baby, but acts as a room thermometer and soft glow nightlight. The unit changes colors signifying if the room is too cold, too hot or just right. With 900MHz digital technology, it has a 650 foot range, $50, 800-926-8627, www.summerinfant.com.
The Fridge Guard Appliance Safety Latch from Parent Units keeps refrigerator doors safe and shut. Made of high-grade durable plastic, it comes in white or clear. Use two on top of a double-door appliance, $8, 732-792-7244, www.parentunits.com.
When a child is placed in his car seat, the Car Seat Monitor from Cars-N-Kids senses the weight and automatically turns on. Whenever the car stops, a lullaby plays about four seconds later, letting the driver know the child is secure in the seat. That’s also the amount of time it takes for a driver to start exiting the car — so the lullaby is a reminder not to leave the child. The monitor also beeps if the child gets out of the car seat, $40, 573-434-2244, www.carseatmonitor.com.
The two-piece Giggle Bug Toddler Tracker from Intelent Technologies helps keep a child from getting lost. With the bug clipped to a child’s clothes, a parent can find the child by pressing a button on the hand-held unit which will make the Giggle Bug emit a loud beep. The clip also has an alarm in case it gets dislodged or removed from the child’s clothing. Its range is 75 to 100 feet indoors and 100+ feet outdoors, $20, 888-682-0353, www.giggle-bug.com.
The ProGrade Front Load Washer-Dryer Lock by Safety 1st locks front load washers and dryers when not in use. Features include a SecureTech locking indicator, easy to mount adhesive backing, and a sleek design that blends with machine style, $17, 800-544-1108, www.djgusa.com.
This Alphabet Magnet from Parking Pal helps keep children safe when they’re around a vehicle. Placed on the car’s rear panel or a door, the child is instructed to stand with their hand on it until the parent tells them it’s OK to move, $8, 540-660-1545, www.parkingpalmagnet.com.
The bizzyBee, by ChicksWithKidz, is a baby data assistant that records, recalls and reminds parents of a week’s worth of baby’s medication (up to six meds), sleep and feeding schedules. It can be uploaded to a computer to view trends and track info for the baby’s pediatrician, $120, 866-936-5439, www.chickswithkidz.com
Protect children from scalds and burns with the Stove Guard from Prince Lionheart. Made of heat-resistant, polycarbonate plastic, it adjusts to fit stoves from 24 inches to 36 inches wide. Mounts on front or top of stove, $25, 805-922-2250, www.princelionheart.com.
The miniature Respisense Breathing Monitor from Infantrust Parenting Solutions clips onto the diaper. It senses baby’s tummy movements and sounds an alarm when motion stops for too long, $140, +27 21 883 9747, respisense.com.Pipila is a portable UV sterilizer from Hygiene Innovations that eliminates up to 99.9% of germs on a pacifier. It takes six minutes from start to finish, $30, 516-671-3135, www.pipilausa.com.
The SeatSnug, by Lap Belt Cinch, easily clips to a vehicle’s seatbelt, and gently secures a child in a booster seat. It substantially eliminates bouncing, rocking, tipping and other movements, reducing potential injuries, $60, 302-234-8110, www.seatsnug.com.
BabyKick is a hand-held portable device by Unisar that helps a pregnant mom keep track of her baby’s movements. Mom presses a button each time the baby moves and BabyKick counts and times them. It stores and recalls the last 10 sessions, counts down the last 99 days of pregnancy, and times contractions when labor begins, $30, 800-233-1196, www.unisar.com.
SafetyMate for the New Parent, by SafetyMate, is a hand-held, interactive talking first aid guide. It has eight themed buttons, which lead to more than 30 first aid issues. English or Spanish instructions walk a caregiver through an emergency situation, $60, 800-439-8995, www.safetymate.com.
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