| Hilary Glann is married with two sons and | | | | working together, and you're not a bitter |
| four pets. A former executive with HP, Hilary | | | | solo toilet scrubber. |
| now runs a marketing consulting firm that | | | | |
| helps technology companies achieve their | | | | Be an Excellent Carpooler: Seek out carpool |
| business objectives by using marketing as a | | | | opportunities for as many of your kid's |
| competitive advantage. | | | | activities as you can. Sell your children on |
| | | | the 'green' benefit of carpooling if they |
| As a working mom, time is your most precious | | | | dislike the kids they have to carpool with. |
| commodity. Motherhood and career are both | | | | Carpools take some upfront time to organize, |
| all-consuming activities; you don't have time | | | | but can save huge amounts of time in the end. |
| to do it all yourself. Therefore, since | | | | |
| they'll probably notice at work if you ask | | | | Make Your Kids Part of the Solution: Most |
| others to do your job for you, your only | | | | kids 'needs' vastly outnumber their means. |
| choice is to outsource some of your family | | | | Instead of listening to endless whining from |
| chores to others. | | | | your kids about the toys, gadgets and other |
| | | | things they need in your life, have them earn |
| This can be difficult for many of you | | | | these rewards by working for you. If your |
| because, after all, no one can shop, clean or | | | | kids ask for specific things, work out a plan |
| cook for your family as well as you can. But | | | | with them to take on extra chores to "pay |
| you're not Martha Stewart who actually gets | | | | for" those items. One friend of mine had her |
| paid for being a household wizard. Instead, | | | | son do the dishes for a few months to earn a |
| focus on being Mom at home and let others | | | | new bicycle. After he got the bicycle, he |
| take care of the rest. Here are some simple | | | | asked if he could keep doing the dishes |
| ways to have others do work for you: | | | | because he enjoyed earning the extra money. |
| | | | Similarly, my son earns a subscription to a |
| Buy on-line: Many grocery stores now offer | | | | special satellite soccer channel by carrying |
| affordable home delivery. And, if you plan | | | | out some very specific chores each week. He |
| ahead, you can get free or inexpensive | | | | can stop doing the extra chores at any time - |
| shipping on many other Internet purchases. | | | | and we'll stop paying the subscription fee. |
| Okay, so on-line shopping is not without its | | | | |
| perils - one time Safeway delivered 12 pounds | | | | Many moms are uncomfortable putting their |
| of green beans instead of 2 because I typed | | | | kids work - between school and |
| the order quantity wrong. Or, there's the | | | | extracurricular activities, so many kids are |
| king-sized dog bed that looked just right for | | | | already overscheduled. But, kids who help out |
| my small retriever when I bought it on the | | | | more at home are learning about the value of |
| pet supplies web site. But green beans and | | | | money and the value of their time. Plus, |
| gigantic dog beds aside, on-line shopping can | | | | they're gaining an appreciation for how hard |
| save you tons of hours and shopping hassles. | | | | their parents work to support them. These are |
| | | | valuable skills that will make them self |
| Have someone else clean the house: Get back | | | | sufficient when they leave home. Any child |
| the time that you're spending cleaning your | | | | over the age of five can contribute to the |
| house. If you can't afford or can't find | | | | well-being of the family in some way or |
| someone to clean your house for you, then | | | | another. |
| make house cleaning a family affair. Spend a | | | | |
| couple of hours together as a family on | | | | There are many other ways to outsource work |
| Saturdays cleaning your home. Sure, you'll | | | | to others. It's up to your budget, and your |
| have some uneven results from the kids, but | | | | creativity, to figure out the right balance |
| really, who cares? The kids are learning how | | | | of do versus delegate. |
| to be self-sufficient, the family is all | | | | |