Moms: Caregiver and Provider

As moms, we wear many hats. We are the keepers of the hearth and home, each day is filled with a variety of activities that involve taking care of others. Basically, everything that a mom does can be divided into two categories: caregiver or provider.

It’s no secret, mothers are nurturers by default. They care for and protect what is theirs with our very lives. This is true both in the animal and the human domains.

As a Provider

Moms in the U.S. spend over 3.7 trillion dollars a year on consumer goods according to BSM Media. This includes shopping for kids, husbands or significant others, older parents, adult children and themselves.

Why is this?

Moms have the savvy and the presence of mind to take the time and think through a purchasing decision before actually making the purchase. Buying power like that comes with great responsibility and moms are just the ones to handle it.

According to Whirlpool (1995), 88 percent of women are responsible for caring for their families. These moms are married and single. For single parents, the responsibility increases because they are the sole provider. Every decision from health insurance to home loans to buying groceries falls on them.

As a result of being the provider (sole or in partnership), moms are taking the bull by the horns, so to speak. They are actively seeking out information on various topics so they can make an intelligent decision and use their buying power effectively.

As the Caregiver

According to statistics published in June 2001 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, many families will spend over $165,000 on a child from birth to eighteen years of age. Just imagine if you have several children? When your income ranges from the mid-thirties to the mid-sixties (thousands of dollars), that is a significant amount of your income.  And that is simply the average family.

As a caregiver, moms are responsible for everything from vaccinations to which summer camps the kids will attend. Their choices shape the next generation. Making the best decisions possible involves stepping up and finding out the best way to give our families what they need.

Older moms are also challenged to consider the best way to care for the parents who once cared for them. As people live longer, there are a greater number of middle age parents who are trading the care of their now grown children for that of their aging parents. They are left with making the decisions about insurance, living accommodations and managing health concerns which is not easy by any standard.

The extraordinary buying power of moms results from their roles as caregiver and provider for the ones we love. We are stepping up to meet our responsibility with intelligence and strength.

Are you like me, a mom? What do you spend your money on? There is no denying that the buying power of moms has made a big impact on the consumer market. If you are curious to see if we get it right, keep reading to learn something you might not have known about other moms and their buying habits.

The Moms of the Toddler Set

We all know that when we have kids, our buying habits can change. Mostly out of necessity, but as moms, we secretly love to shop for all those cute gadgets and clothing available for babies these days. According to an Online Behavior and Demographics survey by Jupiter Media Metrix, over 40 percent of moms will buy items online that are on sale. These items probably wouldn’t have been purchased in the store

When you add children to the mix, there is a whole new arena of buying to consider. Instead of buying fashionable shoes and clothing (which you can still squeeze in if you are a savvy shopper), new moms are buying breast pumps, diapers, bottles and Onesies. Fashion has come to the small and sweet-smelling and moms are all for it. The mentality is “Why shouldn’t your baby be the best dressed on the playground” in Old Navy, Gymboree and OshKosh B’Gosh?

Also, moms with babies and young children are new to the kid scene. They are apt to research products before purchasing them. Recommendations from veteran moms, like us, whether online or off, are absolutely influencing the decisions on what purchases to make and what ones to stay away from.

Moms with Older Kids

Now the buying habits get interesting. About ten years ago, the mom of a teenager required a users guide to navigate the world of emerging technology . Most didn’t know how to shop for an iPod, a PDA or an Xbox. One thing they did know is that technology equaled big dollars and they wanted those dollars well spent.

Now, today those same moms are learning the lingo. They are shopping for and becoming knowledgeable about iPods, gaming systems, netbooks and other gadgets. As moms, we have found that using technology is just as fun as purchasing it for our kids.  I can attest as I have a Nintendo DS, an iPod Classic and several other techie toys myself.

Baby Boomer Moms

For these moms, life has come full circle. They are now caring for aging parents and are empty nesters themselves. New issues take precedence in their life such as senior healthcare, coping with illness, upside-down mortgages, assisted living and managing more than one household.

These moms aren’t buying diapers or bicycles anymore. Instead, they search for specialized items to fit the needs of their parents while adjusting to life as empty nesters. Moms over 45 are buying vacation packages or time shares, downsizing their homes and shopping for items related to their hobbies.

If you, as a mom, are in any of these phases, we have tried to depict an accurate picture of you. For young moms, you now know what is ahead of you. The buying habits of moms change and grow as their responsibilities do the same.

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Here is just a sample of what you’ll get in this awesome deal:

Joy Bauer wrote a great article about the mistake we as parents make when feeding our kids.  Could this be the cause for pickier eaters, obese children and increasing health concerns with kids?  Read the story Here.

How often does your family have dinner together? If you’re like most families nowadays, the answer is probably, “Not very often.”

It’s understandable. Modern families are busy. Both parents work and sometimes get home at different times. Children have activities to go to, and Mom’s got to drive them all over the place. Really, who’s got the time and energy to even cook dinner every single night?

You, that’s who! Eating together is good for you and your family. So you better make time and find the energy to make home-cooked meals and sit down and eat together more often.

Researchers have found many benefits to home-cooked meals. Watch this video to learn about some of them. In my own experience, though, there are many more. Here are 24 reasons I have found to share family meals more often:

1. Families who eat together eat healthier, because home-cooked food is healthier than fast food.

2. Family meals allow busy families to catch up with each other.

3. Young children learn a lot of verbal skills just by eating with their family members.

4. It gives everyone a chance to unwind after a busy day.

5. Having family meals more often forces you to end your working day and other obligations in time for dinner.

6. Home cooked meals are not only healthier, they’re also cheaper than takeout food or eating out.

7. Eating together forces everybody to tell stories.

8. Cooking at home motivates you to be creative with your meal planning and cooking.

9. Children can get involved in cooking meals.

10. Cooking and eating together creates happy childhood memories.

11. Eating together is an opportunity to explore different cuisines.

12. Eating with your family is more fun than eating in front of the television (or the computer).

13. Eating together gives parents a chance to talk about current events from their point of view, injecting their personal values without giving a lecture.

14. Eating together helps family members bond and get to know each other better.

15. You’ll be surprised what your kids reveal when you’re in a relaxed environment, such as a family meal.

16. Kids are less likely to roll their eyes when you reminisce and tell stories from your childhood while eating a meal together.

17. Family meals can be good teaching moments, even for small children. My toddler learned how to count by counting after-meal treats on his high chair.

18. Eating together is a good opportunity to teach and model good manners.

19. Family meals give a good transition from work or school to home life.

20. Family meals are also good times to share music together.

21. Family meals teach everyone valuable life skills, such as sharing and taking turns.

22. Stopping and sitting down to a meal gives everyone a chance to quiet down and regroup.

23. Family meals provide an additional occasion for family members to pray together.

24. Eating home is more eco-friendly than eating out or ordering food – less waste!

If you think having family meals is too much work, don’t despair. You can get help for everything from meal planning to putting your weekly grocery shopping list together. Check out Dine Without Whine for kid-tested, quick recipes that will help you put together family meals with less effort. Dine Without Whine’s weekly shopping lists will also help you get food shopping done much faster, and even save money on groceries.

As you can see from the list above, the extra time and effort you spend to have family meals more often are worthwhile.

By Aurelia Williams, author of Journey to Joy

In a search for happiness, many people look for it in other people and not within ourselves. Many people feel that things like money, a better job, better relationships..etc will make them happy. In reality, to find true contentment you must look inside yourself and learn to be your own best friend. That means you have to trust, love, and care for yourself just as you do the people you consider to be close to you.

Following are steps that you can incorporate into your life that will help you to feel more empowered and happy about yourself! These are just some of the many practical strategies I provide to my Journey to Joy students:

Begin to lift yourself up, not put yourself down. If you don’t like something about yourself, work to change it. If you can’t change it, simply accept it. Don’t beat up on yourself with negative self-talk. You’re not likely to change for the better when you fill yourself with negative thoughts.

Give yourself positive rewards. When you do something that you are proud of give yourself a small reward. Try not to wait for others to praise you because you may grow resentful if the praise doesn’t come. Pat your own back, it is a great feeling that can stay with you for a long time.

Forgive yourself. I doubt that you would keep scolding a child over and over for making a mistake so don’t do that to yourself. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness when you make a mistake. After that, work to figure out what lesson you can learn, and use it to make better choices the next time around.

Enjoy your successes. Most people can remember all of the details of depressing, painful or even embarrassing events that happened many years ago. What if you did the same thing with all of your wins? Try to remember all of the triumphs and accomplishments that you’ve made and keep that memory with you and think about it at least once a week.

Always remember to celebrate your wonderful qualities! You will soon discover that the more you love yourself, the more you will be able to give love to others – and the more others will be able to love you!

Next Steps:

For more help, instantly access your Journey To Joy tools, for a happier and more fulfilled you. This inspiring eBook with accompanying audio recordings, worksheets and easy-to-apply action steps shows you how to take back the joy in your life.

By Aurelia Williams, author of Finding More Family Time

With our busy life styles, finding family time can be hard. Most homes these days are two income homes. Kids are booked with activities from school to church to sports. The older the children are, the harder it seems to schedule family time with everyone in one place.

Family time is an important bonding time. It helps parents stay in touch with what is going on in their kid’s lives. It helps the children bond with each other and their parents. It is a significant element in families that is often pushed off to another time.

What qualifies as family time is up to your family (and I have plenty of tips for you in my Finding More Family Time guide). Not every family can enjoy a trip to Disney or fancy resort. While these are great getaways for the family, they are not the only way to enjoy time with your family. Look for opportunities for everyday family times.

Something as simple as a family dinner is great family time. Though it is often hard to schedule, do this as often as possible. If only a few times a week, it is a great time to gather your children around the table and talk about their day, what is on their minds or things that are happening in their lives or yours.

Even if only one parent can be present, show the children that you care enough to share a meal with them. A bucket of chicken with the fixings, shared together at the picnic table in the backyard, is a great family time.

Find a hobby that parents and children all enjoy. It can be stamp collect or roller hockey, just something that you all enjoy doing. You can find a new activity or enjoy an older love that you haven’t found the time to enjoy lately. The point is to share that time with family. It can be a hobby that is done at home or one that gets you all out of the house together.

Start walking or working out together with your kids. Most parents have goals of getting fitter. This may include walking, running or working out at the gym. Make this a family activity. Walking and hiking are great activities for the family to enjoy together. It is a great time to talk to your children while you are hiking along. It has the side benefit of sharing and teaching the kids about living healthy as well.

Institute a family fun night. A night at home watching movies, solving puzzles or playing board games is a great time for all family members. Let the kids take turns picking out the games or movies each week. Kids really enjoy these activities and doing them with Mom and Dad is even more fun.

You can turn any activity into family time, if it involves family members. Make a shopping trip a fun family time adventure. Get the kids involved. These can be bonding experiences for everyone. Show kids that you are interested in them and who they are becoming.

Need More Help?

Find even more family ideas in the Real Life Guidance to Finding More Family Time Guide. This practical guide will show you how to set reasonable expectations for all family members, balance work and life, get organized and more. Click here for more info.