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Parenting college students is a never ending responsibility. While there are many areas in which parents can assist these emerging adults, it is in the arena of finances that parents can often make a huge difference in the lives of their children.

As you parent your college student consider what responsibility your child has in the pursuit of their college education. This responsibility should be discussed. After college graduation, who pays this debt? During the college years, will the student have any financial obligation? Parenting a college student is a golden opportunity to teach financial responsibility.

Financial lessons should begin before the child leaves for college. Middle School and High School is when the lessons should begin. Parents tend to worry about a student’s expenditures and this is an appropriate worry. If parents don’t teach financial lessons to their children while they are still living at home, disaster is waiting in the wings during the college years.

Lessons Taught in the Launching Years

Before leaving for college, parents need to discuss financial expectations with their college student, including the plan for how many years they expect to be in college. This affects the number of credits they will need to carry each semester/term. The usual is 15 credits. Students taking 9 credits are taking up to 6 years to get an undergraduate degree. So it is important to talk about this so there are no surprises.

Prior to that first semester in college, parents and children need to discuss money management and the budgeting of funds. What are the expectations? Will they have a parents credit card? Do they have their own credit card? I personally suggest that only debit cards be used. No credit cards.

The discussion of finances prevents any surprises on either side, and it encourages open communication. Money management is very difficult initially. A parent might consider a weekly allowance until the student learns to manage their money. If they get their allowance monthly, it is often spent the first week or two. The last 2 weeks is when the whining begins… So, it is imperative for parents to set boundaries and to provide clear guidance. It is nice to set the student up for success, too. Do everything you can think of to help the student be successful. Adapting to college and being responsible for yourself is a big transition.

In order for the college student to establish independence they need to learn to handle their finances proficiently. So much is learned during the college years that is not taught in a class room. College Students need to be reminded of what their goal is. The goal is a college degree, independence and a career that they enjoy.

Spending money foolishly increases their college debt and does nothing to build their resume. It only postpones financial freedom.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Parents must remind the college student to keep their eye on the prize, which is graduation. At times, 4 years, seems like an eternity but it flies by. It is so easy to forget that student loans are just that. Loans. Students need to be reminded of this and when possible they should limit their college debt.

Credit cards are fools gold. The credit card companies send college students credit cards constantly. My recommendation is to forbid the use of credit cards. Period. To a young person, there is no reality to a credit card. Adults have problems with credit cards so why would we expect a young adult to have a good handle on using a credit card. It is a very difficult concept to learn because you cannot see the debt. The student only sees the minimum payment.

A debit card has a monetary limit to withdrawals. If the student receives an allowance, the parent can make a deposit, and the student can make the withdrawal. Parents can consider placing some financial responsibility on the students by making them responsible for their spending money. If you ask them to pay for the books, I am afraid books will not be purchased because text books are over priced and hard to resell.

Somehow, parents need to teach their young that difficult lesson, “there are no free rides in life.” This applies to a college education. Especially during the summer, a student can be expected to earn their spending money for the following year. When they are responsible for earning their own spending money, there’s a good chance they will be more careful how they spend it.

When parenting a college student, one of the best lessons a parent can give their child is a sense of financial responsibility. It’s one of the best winning strategies for success in life.

Dr. Debi Yohn, http://CollegeWorks101.com, is an International Speaker with an elite private practice and a revolutionary parent mentor program. She has authored 4 books helping parents and their college students find success and joy in the college experience.

Parenting a college student is a skill built on understanding, adaptability and love. The most important component of course is love and respect. As a loving parent, you need to share mutual respect with your maturing young adult child.

We demonstrate respect by concentrating on what our children have to say, really listening to them and enjoying their company. Listening is an art form that many of us have abandoned, especially as parents. We listen to dribble from our friends but we often don’t allow our children the same courtesy. Don’t forget they like telling the stories, too, and you might learn something from just listening, instead of playing the hundred question game.

Your college student will love the attention, and will be more apt to want to spend time with you if they are relaxed and enjoying the conversation. A relationship is two sided. A relationship needs to be an enjoyable experience for both.

Parenting College Students - Less Instruction and Criticism, More Love and Camaraderie

As a parent of a college student, there is the tendency to worry about things such as binge drinking, late night parties and other potentially harmful behaviors. This is a real concern but it cannot be the subject of all conversations. The student will no longer hear your words.

I urge you to listen and choose different words than what you have been saying for years previous. They will not hear those same words they have heard time and time again. This is not particular to just college students. This is a rule in communication. If someone is not hearing you, choose different words. By this I mean different words and a different tone.

One of the main pitfalls that doom the parent-child relationship during the college years is the inability of parents to acknowledge what the student has achieved. This is due to parental concerns over their child’s safety. Again, everyone responds better to positives. Don’t forget to tell them everything they have done well over the past school year. Be sincere. This is not a good time for sarcasm. Kids have feelings and they have pride. You are best served to build on this.

In parenting college students, we would experience more success if we celebrated their successes and their interests. The student would want to share more time with the parent if they were not always in the “hot seat”. Would you want to spend more time with someone who constantly criticized you? Of course, you wouldn’t!

Parents should seize any opportunity to plan some activities to share with their college students, even if it is helping them with their laundry. Chances are good that your children want to spend more time with you if you demonstrate an appreciation of them and of their accomplishments. This really is a fun age. You are cheating yourself of an opportunity to enjoy this parenting experience if you do not take advantage of this.

Parenting College Students - Activities of Common Interest

So, what are some of these activities? Where can you start? First, parents need to show interest in the activities of their children and give them lots of opportunities to talk about what activities they are involved in and what they enjoy. Then, parents should visit the campus, particularly on occasions that are special to the student.

You might consider attending an athletic event on campus, or a concert featuring an artist of mutual interest. If your child has a particular activity that he or she enjoys, you should not hesitate to accommodate their interests. It is okay for you to expose yourself to something different. Haven’t you expected them to do the same? This is what parents do! A parents’ deeds will be remembered long after their words have faded. And you know what? The parent will have these memories, too.

Parenting college students, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and love, will set the ground work for a fantastic relationship in the future. Parents and their college age children begin to enjoy each other’s company on a different level. Do not waste this opportunity. You will not regret it.

Dr. Debi Yohn, http://CollegeWorks101.com, is an International Speaker with an elite private practice and a revolutionary parent mentor program. She has authored 4 books helping parents and their college students find success and joy in the college experience.

Parenting changes during the college years… College Students need parenting but a different kind of parenting. Actually, parenting college students is crucial. The maturing student must successfully negotiate these final years, their launching years from teen to adult.

During College, the student experiences doubts, insecurities, and other challenges that create anxiety, or the “leaving the nest” syndrome. The guidance that parents offer to their children during these college years will help them to cope with their anxieties. Home is still their anchor.

By effectively parenting college students, both the student and the parent will reap benefits now and in the future.

One of my recommendations is for Moms and Dads to encourage year-round school attendance. Parents should explore the advantages of summer school attendance with their student. The mere discussion keeps the child and parent connected. They decide together if this is something that will work for the family. This is a new idea. Sometimes the student has never even considered the benefits of remaining on campus and plugged in to the life they have established there.

When a college student knows that their parents are providing some over sight, they actually experience less anxiety. Just as in pre-school, they feel safe. Its a great benefit to take a difficult classes during the summer while they are not carrying a full course load. Then there is another side benefit, if they do this every summer they can progress toward an early graduation or graduate on time. If they graduate a semester early, a reward may be they use this semester to travel.

When discussing year-round college attendance, parents and the student will realize there is both a financial and a time management benefit. The bottom line… this is a good use of time.

Students may prefer the option of returning home for the summer and attending a local community college. Here is another idea… getting a part time job. Students may be homesick and just need to be home for a while. This is okay.

My point is, there needs to be some constructive activity during the summer. Working or taking courses is a great use of the time away from campus. Always keep your eye on the goal - graduation.

A big plus to this plan is students will have a different choice of professors. They may establish a more personal teacher-student relationship and experience greater success in summer school. This helps the grade point average. It is also a big relief to get a tough course behind you.

Let’s be honest, after the first few weeks, the summer months are boring! The valuable commodity of time is wasted, and too much free time exacerbates the parental tendency to worry. Binge drinking, late night parties and other reckless behaviors are serious concerns.

When the student comes home for the summer, it is extremely important for the parents and the student to sit down and discuss “house rules”. The student has been independent for a full school year so they will expect different rules. Of course they want to retain their independence but the parent has to be comfortable with the schedule too. The parent-child relationship is nurtured and grows stronger when there is good communication. So sit down and talk about this. Do not wait until you are angry about it.

What you want is a young adult that is more open to listening to parental advice. When a parent can discuss the advantages of going to school year-round in a language that the student will hear, the student may make responsible decisions. If your student does not make good choices, then as a parent, you need to decide what you choose to finance.

When a child is college age, I believe they always need to be building their resume. Whether they are doing volunteer work, internships or taking summer classes. Any travel or outside activity should reflect on their resume. I also believe that everyone is happier when they are busy and productive. This does not mean they cannot have fun. For example, if they take a tough academic course during the summer, suggest they take a fun elective with it.

My advise? Don’t dictate to your student what they will do this summer. Just ask them, “So, what are you going to do this summer? Take summer classes or work?”

Dr. Debi Yohn, http://CollegeWorks101.com, is an International Speaker with an elite private practice and a revolutionary parent mentor program. She has authored 4 books helping parents and their college students find success and joy in the college experience.

Each year, thousands of babies are injured by playing with toys that are unsafe. While most manufacturers have taken great care to ensure their toys are baby-safe, the injuries continue. Sometimes, it’s due to the manner in which the toys were built. Other times, babies are left unattended with toys that are otherwise safe but can still cause harm when the baby is alone. The injuries are always unfortunate. Some are tragic. Thankfully, with diligence, most of the toy-related harm that happens to babies can be prevented. In this article, you’ll discover the toy hazards that can potentially hurt your child.

Beware Of Sharp Edges And Points

Toys aren’t typically sold with sharp edges and points. However, some toys are manufactured in such a way that they appear harmless but can cause injury when played with. Also, though many baby toys are built absent of any edges or points that can pierce, cut, or otherwise injure your child, they can break. When a baby plays with a toy, pieces can break off exposing sharp points that can slice or puncture the skin. When you buy a new toy for your baby, take time to inspect it. Remove it from the packaging. Take note of any potential breaks or damage that can expose metal, glass, or hard plastic edges.

Watch The Small Parts

Most baby toys don’t allow small parts to be removed or unfastened. They’re typically sold in 1 piece. But, toys break easily. Simply dropping it onto the ground can cause pieces to loosen. The parts may not break off at that moment, but a slight pull or tug by your baby can easily cause the part to dislodge from the toy. Because babies tend to put things into their mouth, this can be extremely dangerous. Small parts can be swallowed and become lodged deep in your baby’s throat, cutting off air. Or, your baby may place the small piece in her ear or nose. There, it can remain out of reach as your baby screams in pain. While considering toys to buy, make sure there are no removable parts. Keep in mind the materials from which the toy is constructed. Hard plastic can easily break off and cause injury.

Mind The Projectiles

Surprisingly, there are a few toys that are sold with the ability to shoot small projectile parts. There’s very little power behind the projectile, but its size can cause a tragic problem. Your baby might swallow the projectile. Or, it can strike your baby’s eyes. Every precaution that you take in purchasing baby toys with small parts should be taken when buying toys that propel small objects. These toys can become deadly in a baby’s hands.

Choosing Toys Your Baby Can Handle

There’s a lot you can do to ensure your baby is never exposed to the dangers of hazardous toys. It requires a bit of forethought. For each toy you purchase, ask yourself whether the toy is too small. You don’t want your baby to swallow the toy. How heavy is the toy? If dropped onto your baby’s head, can it cause an injury? Does it have a cord that your baby may inadvertently wrap around his neck? Are there pieces that are loose on the toy? With time, can those pieces become detached and pose a safety threat?

These are the questions you should ask yourself whenever you buy a baby toy. By being mindful of the potential hazards, you can all but guarantee the safety of your baby. Thousands of babies are injured by toys each year. Nearly every injury could have been prevented. Use the tips above to protect your child.

SweetMadelyn is a baby boutique offering unique baby gifts, furniture and clothes in designer and organic options.

As people become more aware of the dangers posed by chemicals laced throughout millions of products, there’s been a monumental shift in our purchasing decisions. We have a broader appreciation for the potential risks of the products we consume, wear and use. The chemicals we once ignored pose a risk both to our health and the longevity of our environment. Today, millions of parents choose to cover their babies in organic clothing. Forsaking the baby clothes that put dangerous chemicals in such proximity to their children, many people have decided to go organic. Below, you’ll learn about the benefits of buying organic baby clothes. We’ll also provide you with the names of a few dependable baby clothing companies who produce the clothes that help protect your child.

Benefit To Your Baby Of Going Organic

Organic baby clothes offer a number of benefits. First, it’s important to understand how traditional clothes are made. Most baby clothes are made from cotton. You may not realize that cotton is a crop. It’s grown and harvested. Unfortunately, while it grows, it attracts a host of insects. To prevent the crops from being decimated, several pesticides are sprayed onto the cotton. Research has already revealed links between some of the chemicals used on the cotton and cancer (namely, propargite, dicofol and cyanazine).

Stop for a moment and think of your baby’s skin. It’s vulnerable. It hasn’t developed the same thickness adults enjoy. When babies wear clothes made from cotton treated with pesticides, the chemicals used on the cotton crops rest on your baby’s skin. By contrast, organic baby clothes are made from cotton that is grown on land untreated by pesticides. The chemicals used in conventional clothing never touch the organic cotton crops. As a result, there’s no risk of dangerous, cancer-causing chemicals being absorbed through your child’s skin.

Benefit To The Environment Of Going Organic

Because pesticides are so powerful, they have a long-lasting impact upon the environment. The effects are not limited to the fields upon which the cotton is grown. Though the pesticides are sprayed upon the crops, a devastating ripple effect that takes place. The chemicals in the pesticides seep into the soil. They contaminate the water. Ultimately, the ecosystem that depends upon the water becomes retarded. The wildlife consume the pesticides by drinking the water. Plants and trees are unable to sustain healthy growth.

These are the impacts caused by spraying pesticides on cotton crops. While organic baby clothes are safe for your baby and prevent their exposure to chemicals, they also reduce the amount of damage we cause to our environment.

Baby Clothing Companies To Consider

There are several well-regarded companies which produce organic baby clothes. They’ve devoted themselves to the protection of your children and the environment from dangerous pesticides. Some make general clothes while others specialize. For example, BabyLegs produces organic legwarmers while the Baby Bam Collection includes pajamas, onesies and even towels and washcloths. Pure Beginnings produces organic baby blankets, caps, booties and pants. Didymos manufactures organic baby slings. These companies strive to deliver organic baby clothes that are untouched by pesticides.

Buying Organic Baby Clothes

If you’re concerned about having chemically-treated clothes on your baby’s skin (and you should be), explore organic options. The companies mentioned above have a reputation for producing quality baby clothes from 100% organic cotton. Years ago, there weren’t alternatives available. Times have changed. You can buy fashionable baby clothes that are safe for your baby’s skin. They often cost less, last longer and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your baby is protected.

SweetMadelyn is a baby boutique offering unique baby gifts, furniture, and clothes in designer and organic flavors.

A colicky baby is not a happy baby. And a parent of a colicky baby is not a happy parent. It’s so tuff to see your little one in pain. You are desperate to relieve the pain and stop the crying as soon as possible. What to do? Try one or all of these surefire home remedies for colic.

One of the possible reasons for colic could be your baby’s premature nervous system. Some experts like Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D., who wrote the “Happiest Baby on the Block,” believe your baby actually experiences a fourth trimester. Their nervous system cannot process all the stimuli they receive from the outside world in the first few months of life.

So, what do you do? You recreate the environment your baby was happy in for the other three trimesters.

Get moving

Mom was on the move while pregnant. Baby was comforted by the gentle jostling she felt throughout the day while mom went about her daily tasks.

If baby starts to cry, try taking her for a walk, a ride in a stroller, a ride in a car, or put her in a baby swing for a little while.

Babywearing

Try a sling. Research shows that babies carried in slings cry 43% overall and 54% less during evening hours. In cultures in Asia, South America and Africa, where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures such as the United States. Plus, the sling allows baby to feel the gentle jostling we described above which will help calm her.

White Noise

When your baby was in the womb, she heard a constant roar, or “whoosh” of sound similar to the sound a vacuum cleaner makes while running. Many experts, like Dr. Karp, believe playing a white noise cd will remind your baby of the noise she heard while in the womb and this will calm her down in no time flat.

Swaddling

Before baby was born, she was in a tight, warm, cozy place. You can recreate this effect by swaddling. Swaddling is basically using a technique to wrap your baby up in a tight bundle (not dissimilar to wrapping a burrito). Some companies also manufacture a special swaddling blanket which will make the task easier.

Gripe Water

Although gripe water does not create a fourth trimester, it tackles, effectively; the pain baby suffers from gas and cramping.

When baby cries, she takes in a bunch of air, which becomes trapped in her stomach and forms painful gas. She also is thought to suffer from a premature digestive system, and simply can’t handle the breast milk or formula she consumes. The proteins are too hard to digest.

You can help relieve this gas with Gripe Water. Gripe Water has been around for over a century. Different formulations exist, but brands such as Colic Calm or Baby’s Bliss are readily available in the U.S. markets. They contain homeopathic ingredients like chamomile, peppermint, and ginger (among others) to help soothe your baby’s gas quickly.

Check out one, or all of these home remedies for colic. Because when baby is happy, the whole family will be as well.

Cherie Stirewalt is a colic baby survivor and outlines the colic remedies she mastered to soothe her baby’s crying. Download her white noise mp3 and get started on stopping your baby’s colic today!

Every first time mother has a desire to buy some things for the new baby. The question is where to go and what to buy. The answer is with other mothers, but sometimes you don’t want to have to hear that perhaps you got it wrong or that something you thought was great is really unnecessary … so what where do you go for the best answers?

Product Comparison Websites.

These can be informative, but what really drives the people who write them? There is a good chance that anyone who is reviewing products also has links to where you can buy these products. If they have they have links to sales sites, they are probably affiliates, so they will gain financially if you buy. Usually they will get commission if you buy anything via a link on their site. If you were writing such a site there is a good chance that the product paying the biggest commission might be the one you recommend, however unscrupulous you believe it to be, the internet is business. Because of these financial incentives you will probably find that the information is accurate, but that the ratings may be a bit bias.

The Department Stores.

Department stores are not affected by the commission problems of the internet, but at the same time are they really capable of helping you choose? The staff in these stores are usually trained by all of the manufacturers. The manufacturers will send in representatives who will educate the staff on all the advantages of the products, and will show them how they work, also which markets they are specifically designed for. These people are educated on the topic, and unbiased, but have they ever used the products?

The Best Information

The most reliable information will always be from people who have used the product. If you are first time mother, you will probably know some mums, but nothing like as many as you will know twelve months after you have had your child. So how do you tap into this information source, without irritating your friends who already have children? The best way is to head back to the internet and find some site written by parents. These are important as they will discuss topics from a different angle to sales sites, they will be honest and hopefully you will enjoy reading the information on them.

Where Do You Find The Best.

There is nothing like finding a site on the internet which is informative and also entertaining. Think carefully before you search. Perhaps you need to be imaginative about the words you choose for your search, instead of typing a manufacturer, perhaps you need to think about typing a product and an emotions or opinion: for example, my nightmare buggy, how to fold a buggy while holding a child? The important thing is to read as much as possible and when you have found a site where the reading inspires you, you must remember to book mark it. There is nothing more irritating than not being able to find the site a second time, and remember, with a first baby on the way you cannot be expected to remember everything.

Remember that shopping for your baby should be fun, but so should the research. If the article is boring, move on. The internet should offer you a service, not stress you, once you have chosen your product, buy from the best service and price.

Jon Kelly is a published author who writes on many diverse subjects that includes advice on toddlers and babies. We hope to provide you with information you can rely on. To find out more please visit: http://www.greatbabysupplies.com

If your child watches television, goes to the grocery store in October, or visits the movie theater, he or she is a prime candidate for developing fear. Even family friendly television channels can be infested with cartoon monsters, witches, ghosts and bad guys.

Images of monsters under the bed, scary people coming to get them, robbers breaking into the house, or ghosts hanging out in the closet are all fears that the devil uses to attack kids’ minds. This makes bedtime a very difficult and frustrating time for everyone.

Here are six ways to help your child handle his or her fear and master those bedtime monsters.

1. Never minimize your child’s fear. When your child expresses a fear you think is silly (and most do seem silly to parents), don’t roll your eyes, sigh in frustration or say things like, ‘I’ve told you a million times, there are no monsters!’ This reaction only makes him reluctant to come to you next time. The fear is very real for your child. By not taking the fear seriously, you are telling him you don’t take him seriously, thus decreasing his overall security.

2. Don’t maximize your child’s fear. On the flip side, making a big deal of the fear can also make it worse. If you let her sleep with every light on or crawl into bed with you for the night, she may never learn to face her fears. Playing up to her fear will only confirm in her mind that she really does have something to be afraid of.

3. Empathize with your child. Imagine how it feels to be a small child in such a big and scary world. Be honest and share with him about a particular fear you have struggled with and how you overcame it. The only difference between adult and child fear is the way we handle them.

4. Be flexible. Realize that bedtime will take longer. Allow an extra half-hour for bedtime preparations. Recognize the fact that she may play stalling games. If a nightlight doesn’t calm her nerves, leaving a hall or bathroom light on may do the trick.

5. Use stories that show God’s protection. Break open the Bible and read stories of God protecting and caring for His people. Check your local library for bogeyman busters like Hang Your Toes over the Bed by Robert D. Ingram, I Will Not be Afraid by Michelle Medlock Adams’ and the Veggie Tales video, Where’s God When I’m S-Scared?

6. Pray with your child. Perhaps the greatest thing you can do with and for your child is pray. This teaches him that God is bigger than his fear and that he can ask God for help when he’s afraid. Remember to thank God every night for His protection.

Faith is the opposite of fear. When you take an active role during daytime hours of pumping your child full of faith, it won’t be long before the fear is deflated. Monsters will be mastered and bedtime will become peaceful again.

Access Thousands of Inspirational Poems and Christian Poetry. Join the premier Christian Social Networking community.

There are number of programs available to assist single parents in improving their educational standards. For lone parent considering such prospects, you have a number of options with you.

The National Pell grant program is established to support low and middle income single parents to study in college. Their grants ranges starting from $400 up to $4,300 depending on your income and family strength. The college you want to join will require you to submit a full financial statement. Your income will be greater as you are the single bread winner for a family unit of 4 rather than living alone. FAFSA is the standard form used for this purpose by all the schools which provide financial support. To run this program with uniform justice these forms are standardized and in this way all the institutions can judge the applicants in an equal manner. All you have to do is to select your school, apply on the form and if you are on the merit you can start off.

Student loan is another way to finance studies for single parents. These low interest loans are supportive as they usually have minimum interest rate and return of payments are postponed till graduation or if you are unable to attend the compulsory number of hours. If you are looking for the loan it is mandatory to be careful about the terms and conditions. If you are unaware about the terms, try getting some assistance first. Most of these are mandatory to return and you cannot get rid of student loans by filing bankruptcy. Adding up of interest will result in piling up of hundreds of dollars to be paid back. Private student loans are one such type of loan in which there are variable interest rates, moreover the terms are not as good as standard federal student loans.

A number of single parents decide to return to college and a number of adult scholarships are available to support them. You need not pay to look for these scholarships as you can get the help of certain non profit organizations. These agencies are available allover the country. One such agency is CFNC.org which mainly looks after residents of North Carolina. Similar websites assist lone parents as well as other students to find student scholarships.

In general a large number of single parents decide to resume the college either to acquire a degree or to get a higher qualification. The aim is to increase their job prospects. Pell grant, student loans and adult scholarships are all viable options for low or middle income single parents. Some options out of these are for specific groups such as single mothers. The idea is to use as much free assistance as possible to find the best option and then to look for the correct place to find it. This is where admission offices of various schools come to your help as they are keener to teach committed adults as compared to non serious young ones.

Find out more about the public debate on single parenting and effects on children as well as common fact about single parenting at http://www.singleparentingfordummy.com, the top online resource portal on single parenting for dummy.

I became a freelance writer after deciding to work from home in order to keep my only child from having to go to after school care once she began kindergarten. I worked a program that, at the time, was still in a developmental phase. Now, Make Money From Writing, is a full course designed to help people who want to be freelance writers. It was the best decision I ever made and I am so grateful I can work from home and be wherever my daughter needs me to be. Well, most of the time.

Working from home is an experience of its own. Having worked in office environments around other people for 15 years, I was not aware of the changes I would undergo staying home on a full time basis, with only my MSN Instant Messenger to keep me social. It was a little daunting at first. It took me a good year to get into the groove and find what works best for me. Sometime I just need a mid-morning nap so I have learned to take it. There is a lot of guilt involved in working for yourself. You end up feeling guilty that you are not working when you think you should be or if you have what I call a “lazy day” when you just can’t get it together. You tend to work many more hours for yourself and it is difficult to leave stuff at the office, when the office is in your home.

However, aside from the guilt surrounding working for yourself, by far the worst guilt stems from being a mother. In reality, working from home means you actually have to work. For me, my child is at school 8 hours a day so I have time to work during those hours. As a writer, I don’t always feel in the right state of mind to successfully produce material. Sometimes I am not inspired until the school bus has deposited my daughter at the door. Therein lies the mom guilt.

Mom guilt by far, has to be one of the biggest challenges I face as a mompreneur. Even though I am sitting next to her in the same room, if I am working on my laptop, she will no doubt find a way to push the guilt button. She’ll ask me endlessly if I am done working yet or would I like to color with her. I have tried to explain several gazillion times that “mommy has to work for a bit” but it’s always the same. She gets bored – she bugs me. I get frustrated because I can’t accomplish the things that earn me money. Her 5 year old brain doesn’t understand that just because I am in the room doesn’t mean I am free to play. It’s a daily occurrence. Even when her dad does his best to entertain her as I work, just hearing them in the other room makes me feel bad that I am not in there too.

However, I have been getting better with my resolve. I patiently explain as many times as it takes that I have to work and then proceed to do just that. I work and think that it is all worth it in the end and take comfort knowing that at least we are in the same room and she is okay. She will not be a latchkey kid as I was and it inspires me to work all the more now so that she will continue to benefit from my owning my own business. While I can never let go of the guilt completely, or stop getting irritated at the people who tell me to not feel guilty, I do stick to my guns and get the job done when I need to.

The summer is fast approaching and soon I will play double roles for 2 months. I get to be super mom during the day and extremely worn out writer in the night. But, without a doubt, I wouldn’t want to be anyone else.

Tisha Kulak was the first student of the MakeMoneyFromWriting.com mentoring program. This program gives members the information they need to make money from home through freelance writing, including how to find clients and set your writing fees.