Do &mother ask for help?

I have always been impressed by the achievements of my mother in-law. She has grown to be a strong and amazing &mother.

Since she was young she had to take things into her own hands to help support her family and make sure her kids would receive a good education by going to the best schools. Even though she always had her husband next to her, what she wanted for her kids was far beyond what anybody thought she would accomplish. She did not listen to anyone and just took upon herself to give the most she could to her three children.

When she was around 50 she decided to get a job in the World Bank. Everyone around her thought it was an impossible dream, taking into account her age and education. But she knew she had the experience needed and fought her way to get her new job to secure for herself and her husband a health insurance and a fair retirement. The most important thing for her has always been not to burden her children with their medical future needs.

But through all this, the last thing she did was to ask for help. Until today I see her sacrifice towards her kids, now man and woman. She also still takes care of her very sick husband, all on her own.

My question is why we, &mothers, don’t know how to ask for help and rather always end up doing all ourselves.

In one of his articles Dr. Oz says ¨build your own team¨. In his work he relies on his staff who he says has amazing skills far beyond his (article on Woman´s day). In his own words, that this is exactly where he sees women trip, since THEY DON’T ASK FOR HELP.

Does that happen at work as well as in our personal lives? 

SVS

Do you think as a woman and mother, that your approach to business is different to that of a man?

I have been thinking for several days to write an article about woman and mother in business, more specially the perceptions that others have of us.

It all came to my mind when I was watching the international news and heard the speech of the South Korean first woman president elect. After the speech they had some views of her citizens about her election. And it was interesting to see how the majority mentioned that they were hopeful of her leadership since she was a mother  therefore she  would be able to lead differently. Women specially were hopeful that she would bring to the table new laws to help woman in the country present difficult future forecast of economic difficulties.

Then again few days later on the plane to spend my Christmas holidays with the family, I found a question in a magazine sent to a female editor asking if she thought that by being a woman her approach to business was different of that of a man. I happen to agree with the editor when she says that everybody’s approach to business is different and that business is not gender specific and that either you are good at it or not. Of course this is applied to politics, but do people see it that way as well or do they still judge business and political leaders on gender preferences?

Lost Child

When terrible things happen to children all around the world as has happened in the last few days, the world stops for a moment and makes us think how fragile life is.

When times like this happens all we want is for our kids to be safe wherever they are and at all times we pray that they would outlive us.

We pray for the soul of those gone and may God give all the family left behind of the children and the adults that have passed away, strength, peace and forgiveness to overcome such overwhelming pain.

Teenagers

Today as everyday, after making breakfast to my son and run to take him to school, I am back to my office to be this energetic business woman. when I am out there, I am suppose to act as if I can take over the world, without showing the natural everyday worries of a parent.

The first thing I have to do, of course, is read the news from all over the world, and it came to my attention, the news about Angelina Jolie plan to retire when her first kid becomes a teenager. I have to say to her, "way to go girl" . Of course, inside my heart I say, " I wish I could do that" , and as many of you out there parents wish to be able to retire when your kids are teenagers.

We as parents always try to know everything our teenager does, as getting to know their friends, making sure they come to your house more often than your kid goes to theirs, meeting their parents, etc. But, is that really enough. With my 20 year old, I have found out that no matter how much you know their friends you really never know them enough. Thanks to a good relationship I have had with him, I found out after years that there is always something I never suspected or knew. The only advise I would have for all of us is "patience" lots of it and most importantly love them always no matter what, because after all, they will fall and get up again, just like we all did.

Keep the hard work, cry and scream, non of us know all the answers and all the tricks but we need to keep on going and learning, we have to, for them and for ourselves.

SVS

What is this blog all about

            This blog is for all the mothers and fathers that are out there holding two jobs, the first and most important the job of being a parent and ¨the other¨ either outside home or homemakers.

            This blog is to share all our experiences, how to help each other and give ideas of how to juggle between two jobs. How can it be possible to make it all ¨perfect¨?

            Today I would like you to start by adding after your job position the title of " &mother or &father", you have earned it!

            Don’t be afraid of being the first one to do it in the company, Companies should support working parents!!!

           Share with me your experiences!

SVS