Superwoman Is Dead

Most mothers fight a constant battle between stress and guilt. 

by Emuna Braverman

“The Age of the Superwoman is dead,” says Samantha Parent Walravens, editor of the recently released TORN: True Stories of Kids, Career & the Conflict of Modern Motherhood. I called Ms. Walravens at her Northern California home to discuss the impetus for the book and her goals and vision. We forged an instant bond because I know first-hand exactly what she is talking about.

Many of us today have bought into the superwoman myth. We think we can do it all – careers, children, healthy marriages – and then we realize that we still need to sleep at night!

WHY MOMS DON’T ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW BEST

By Sheila

Each Friday my syndicated column appears in several newspapers. Here’s this week’s!

I’ve been giving advice to men about relationships lately, and I thought I’d continue the trend today, since I like telling men what to do.

Let’s start with a misconception men often have. Many men think that if they have mastered the sentence, “Whatever you want is fine with me, Honey,” they have hit the relationship bullseye.

Unfortunately, if that’s you, you’re likely in for a rude awakening. Imagine this: your wife asks you whether little Johnny should take soccer this year. You smile and utter those magic words, and then incomprehensibly she storms off! Something got lost in translation.

BEING A BLESSING

By Sheila

                                                                                                                           

There are some days when I’ve just about had it. Recently, when baby-sitting a friend’s two preschoolers for the day, I realized how much one can forget in the six short years since both of my girls have been out of diapers. On that day, the three-year-old got into the paints when I wasn’t looking. 

I discovered him sitting on top of the kitchen table, making interesting designs on his clothes, and took one look at him and decided he was too far gone to interfere with now. 

Sex and Pregnancy

By Connie Matthiessen and Melanie Haiken

Don't let pregnancy put a damper on an intimate life with your partner. Many parents-to-be fear that intercourse could trigger a miscarriage or somehow harm the baby. But unless you have a high-risk pregnancy, you don't have to worry: Sex poses no danger to either the mother or the child.

The Godly Role of a Mother and Grandmother

Written by Lillian Penner

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)

If Timothy’s grandmother Lois had not beenfaithful in passing on her faith to her daughter Eunice and her grandson Timothy we probably would not have First and Second Timothy in the Bible today. This is a good generational example of the importance of passing on the faith to future generations. Lois is our forerunner who modeled grandmothering for us.

Pregnancy and Cell Phones

Do cell phones harm unborn babies? With more and more women using mobile phones to remain connected with other people, it's becoming a topic of concern.

There has been a great deal of debate for several years surrounding whether or not cell phones are dangerous to use during pregnancy.

Studies Into Pregnancy and Cell Phone Use

In July 2008 in the Journal of Epidemiology published a study of mothers of 13,159 children in Denmark. The researchers from the Universities of Aarhus, Denmark and California, Los Angeles asked mothers questions about their use of cell phone during pregnancy and the behavior of their children.

According to these studies, the mothers who said they used their cell phones during pregnancy reported more behavioral problems in their children. The behavioral problems included difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, and an increased risk of impulsivity.

The study may be concerning to pregnant mothers, but it's unclear whether the study is accurate.

Invisible Moms

This is a story for all moms out there. And to the men reading this, it really shows what our mothers go through.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel" ( Jersey Shore now:() I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

Some days I'm a crystal ball; "Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?"