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