A Working Day in Pictures

And so the week starts without a helper at home which means today starts with the new Ate’s coming in and needing to be trained. Since this had to happen mid-week, this meant working from home for me, all while showing and demonstrating and pointing out how to run things around. And I just had to add another item to it, to blog about it. So read up and look at my view for the day.

Started with the first item on what I named: Helpers’ Onboarding Day, like your ever trusted Project Manager, I started with a timelined checklist while getting started how to complete the Wednesday items: Cleaning up the yard, watering the plants, giving the dog a bath, oh and by the way, taking out the trash for the Wednesday truck to pick up. Mommies have to remember all, because the new Ate’s will not know what they don’t know. Hope I didn’t miss anything in time for me to get back to the office tomorrow.

As soon as the kiddos were off to school, took out my work stuff to start catching up on emails, meeting deliverables, respond to urgent items. Again, all while helping ensure I got all the uniforms’ patches are sewn, everything supplied in the kitchen, lunch and dinner plans ready and praying while making a decision to make this day work. Learned over the years that Mommy Issues are best given to God, after all.

Weapons for work – armed and ready. Frequent walks around the house while typing away, my new Ate’s must be wondering: what in the world is she doing hopping from one mommy task to another office task? Reminder to self, finish writing this off before kids get back from school. This is juggling both work and home, literally. What works for me? Encouragement from God and countless people who help me. Remembering a convo with my husband a couple of days ago, asked me to close my eyes and imagine my kids 5 years older: where we will never need to have any helper at home anymore, where my kids get to do more things independently, where I get to talk to kids and delegate more daily items for big kuya’s to handle. I just had to thank God for it, smile and say: Yes, God, to working excellently until that 5th year picture comes.

So I say my thanks to God for my Wednesday. For I am confident that there is no wasted experience with Him, He is neither late nor too early. In the coming days, months or years, God will use this day to be part of my story for the moms who will need to hear this, just as I have been reminded today that it is not just about today. It is about agreeing for today to be part of the great future that God has reserved for me. With or without helpers, with or without work, with or without gradeschoolers, I can rest and be assured that nothing can go wrong as long as God steers my wheel.

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Tried Lazada Online Shopping : Moms Make Things Simple

Checked my email one random day and both delighted and surprised to see a complimentary voucher from Lazada. I have always been a fan of Lazada online shopping which used to be my go-to-find-a-quick-item tool for my previous Trainer slash Mommy life. So I went on to check out what I can find from Lazada Online Shopping. After oohing and aahing over the list of items on sale, finally found the perfect item to order, a kitchen addition – oven toaster.

Will most likely go online again to try ShoeBiz’s shoes collection perfect for my mommy errands.

So when the order confirmation page told me that I will most likely get the item 1 to 7 days after, my mind went on Philippine delivery timeframe default of expecting the item gets delivered close to the 7^th quoted day. To my surprise again, two days after I clicked submit order, I have the item right at my doorstep. In a matter of two days, also appreciated Lazada for giving their customers a string of order status confirmation to get yourself updated wherever your parcel is at for a specific date and time.

Customers get an email as soon as Lazada warehouse starts working on your order. it quotes the delivery and item details. Very helpful for customers who need to keep track of ordered items.

Customers also get an order confirmation as soon as your ordered item leaves the warehouse and gets shipped. This also shows you an Order Tracking tool you can also access on the move with your mobile.

Customers will appreciate the email on approach they will receive on the same day it gets delivered. Since I ordered using Lazada’s complimentary vouchers, I did not need to pay extra other than the minimal delivery fee of P55.00

If you are like any other mommies I know, we need things fast and easy so we can devote more time to things that last. My order came earlier than I expected that I had enough time to plan what I want to use it for in time for my kids’ baon preparation. So kids and I went ahead with testing it with their favourite cheese sandwich (toasted cheese, butter, with a pinch of sugar sandwich). I will definitely go to Lazada again for my mom-needs.

Gardenia Plant Visited

Imagine a slice of your favorite bread wafting out with that distinct hot-off-the-oven-aroma. That was what my son and I had first-hand when we went to visit Gardenia Plant in Laguna. Have you ever wondered how that bread is made? It was a fun-filled day of discovery as we witnessed and tasted what Gardenia is all about.

As soon as we have landed, we have met Gardee, life size Gardenia mascot. Both moms and kids had a blast learning a LOT about everything bread. For starters, it was encouraging to be taught how to check for freshness of bread. Breads have different shelf lives. Some are good for 3, 5 or 7 days, while others stay at their best anywhere from 10 to 14 days. All my grocery-life, I have mistakenly been checking expiry date when I need to be checking the bread’s baking and delivery day to get more accurate information. Case in point: bread that expires in 5 days may actually be already 5 days old if its “Best Before” date is within 10 days. Aside from this, it is also important to look for other attributes such as softness, freshly baked aroma, great taste and nutritive value.

It was also a day of sampling what mommies can make out of Gardenia bread. There is this Gardenia bread turned into Mexican tuna canapé with liver spread, baked chocolate muffins with strawberry, summer roll sandwich with seafood, special raisin cannoli, no-bake butterscotch in a jar, chocolate eclairs with cherry on top. It added to my list of baon ideas as my son made sure to ask if he can have them as baon for class next week.

Then the plant tour began. Gab hopped from one station to the next while voice-over accurately tells us what we can see around the plant.

Cooling Tower – Gardenia is able to produce more than 6,000 loaves of bread per hour. Each loaf is prepared and produced without the help of human hands

Packaging Station is equipped with automatic cutters and metal detectors to help ensure that all wrapped loaves will have the best quality that Gardenia is best known for.

Kids worked with their own hands as a Gardenia Nutritionist showed them how to create their own Refrigerator cake using Gardenia Chocolate & Mocha loaf. Kids also took the time to write personal thank-you-messages to all the moms.

Special thanks to Mommy Bloggers Philippines for organizing the Gardenia Plant Tour aptly titled as Super Moms Deserve only World-Class Quality.

Yummy Baon Ideas

Say hello to another school year with a new set of Yummy Baon Ideas, thanks for Yummy Magazine’s first ever Big Baon Blowout. We have always been relying on Philippine’s number 1 food magazine to deliver a delightful full-day food affair with Yummy-approved concessionaires at the Trinoma Activity Center earlier today.

Moms of all shapes and sizes, with kids or even entire family in tow, lined up to hop from one booth to the next, sample all the best baon food options. Guest chefs Yummy Magazine’s Erickson John “IDGE” Mendiola, Assistant Managing Editor Katrina Luisa “TRINKA” Gonzales, Assistant Style Editor Ma. Rachelle “RACH” Santos, along with Smart Parenting’s contributing writer Michelle Aventajado with Good Housekeeping Food Editor Roselle Miranda whipped up a few recipes for everyone.

Had a blast of fun filling my plate that towards the end of it, I had a long list of baon options to take home to my kids. Look at my filled plate below, and I haven’t even started with the recipes and baon tutorials yet, prepared in a multi-tasking-mommy-friendly speed right before my eyes.

Miradips – my People’s Choice Nominee. Yummy cheese pimiento and sun dried tomato cream cheese, kids sandwiches will never have to be all the same Monday to Friday.

The Barista Juice – Part dessert. Wholly creamy frothy. Puree of health. Tried their lemon cold pressed juice, tasty for my palette, not sure though if kids will love the raw, organic taste.

Casa San Luis – granola bars made healthy. Would make perfect power bars for moms/dads and tasty snack bars for kids. With more than one flavour to choose from, kids will not realize they’re eating the same nuts they refuse to munch.

Cookie Sticks – cookies made into sticks. Head to SM Southmall, Fairview and Megamall to try this modern twist to an all-time classic.

Theo Philo – Artisan chocolates in different flavours, believe it or not. The peanut butter with no rough peanut pieces, it’s like a spread from melted chocolate. Theo Philo products shown in pictures best used with brownies or cookies.

Severin Crepe Maker – now crepe made possible right from the comfort of my home. Served crepes always makes one think of elaborately made desserts, but the demo from the booth convinced me that it is easy to use and can be quite a hit with the kids. Crepe in less than 5 minutes!

Must be Mom’s Homemade Ensaymada – packed in 6 or 12 pcs. or go with their ensaymaditas with a pack of 60 or 80.

Jacob’s Peanut Butter – with Praline, it is interesting to see there’s chilli peanut butter, not hot enough that your tweens can enjoy, has enough chilli tinge from parents’ taste buds.

Bayani Brew – all Filipino iced tea, kids may never eat raw camote but they will always drink Bayani Brew’s Camote drink.

Yummy Big Baon Blowout is brought to you by Yummy Magazine together with Smart Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Total Girl and K-Zone. This event is co-presented by Aquiva, and sponsored by Datu Puti and Lady’s Choice, and major sponsors Goldilocks, Bounty Fresh Chicken and Hunt’s Pork & Beans. Per DTI-FTRB-SPD Permit # 2118, series of 2015.

For more information about Yummy Magazine, visit http://www.yummy.ph/. Follow Yummy on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yummymagazine, and on Instragram and Twitter @yummyph. Yummy Magazine is available on newsstands and in bookstores, convenience stores, and supermarkets nationwide. A digital edition of Yummy Magazine is also available for download through Apple Newsstand, Buqo and Zinio.

Bounty Fresh joins Asia Digital Marketing Expo 2015 on July 26, 2015 at SMX Aura, Taguig, Philippines

According to Ms. Joan Clarice N. Caccam, Assistant Brand Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI), Bounty Fresh Chicken is a brand under the Bounty Fresh Group of Companies (BFGC), a privately owned company operating in the Philippines. BAVI and its sister company, Bounty Fresh Food Inc. supplies live chicken, dressed chicken, and various processed chicken products nationwide. Bounty Fresh Chicken was awarded “Asia’s Best” in 2009 Asian Livestock Industry Award in Malaysia and is the most-liked chicken brand in the Philippines. It has over a million likes in one of the leading social media platforms, Facebook. This year the brand has launched its new online campaign, #DiskarteNaMayArte. This campaign aims to celebrate the Bounty Fresh Moms out there who always find creative and resourceful ways to make homemaking extra special for their loved ones.

Bounty Fresh supports Asia Digital Marketing Expo 2015 because it acknowledges the powerful role of digital media in reaching and interacting with its customers and brand lovers. At Asia Digital Marketing Expo 2015, different top executives will join together to share the future of Online Marketing in the Philippines and in Asia Pacific region with the following points:

• The digital economy of the Philippines
  • Positioning the Philippines as a gateway from East to West and West to East
  • Is the Philippines ready to be a cashless society?
  • Disrupting tradition and embracing innovation
  • Technology and Entrepreneurship driving inclusive growth
  • Micro – multinationals E-commerce connecting SMEs to ASEAN and beyondPartial list of speakers are as follows;

  • Constantin Roberts – Managing Director, Zalora Philippines
  • Earl Valencia- Head Corporate Development/Innovations, Smart Communications
  • Kristian Melquiades- General Manager, Viber Philippines
  • Donald Felbaum- Managing Director, Optel
  • Richard Upton- President, John Robert Powers Asia
  • Donald Lim- Chief Digital Officer, ABS CBN
  • Janette Toral- E Commerce Advocate, Digital Club Filipino
  • Robert Yupangco- President, Yupangco Group of Companies
  • Chinkee Tan- Best Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Radio Host and Wealth & Wellness Coach
  • Rebecca Bustamante Mills- CEO, Chalre Associates & President, Asia CEO Awards
  • Mikel Yaw- CEO, Elabram Systems Group
  • Carlos Celdran- Brand Ambassador, Tour Guide
  • Maria Camille Montejo- CEO, NWSteel Technologies & Tree Top Adventure Inc.
  • Pocholo Gonzales- CEO, Creative Voices Productions
  • Tanya Llana- Marketing & Sales Director, Victoria Court
  • James Jimenez- Director, Commission On Elections
  • Lloyd Luna- CEO, Lloyd Luna Corporation
  • Jonathan Luzuriaga- President, Philippine Software Industry Association
  • Lewis Hong- Web Consultant, Xyxon Singapore
  • Kim Bernardo Lokin- Managing Editor, Business Class Magazine

  For more information, you may visit www.asiadigitalmarketing.ph. For partnership and sponsorship, you may contact TAG Media & PR at 09166299381 or at grace@asiadigitalmarketing.ph

To all Moms Who Work Nights and Used to Work Nights, This is For You!

With more and more industries demanding 24/7 operational hours, and with more and more women being added to the workforce year on year, it makes sense to take the time to honor all the moms who get to work at night. Just as when the world is gearing up for bed to sleep, moms who work at night get to prep for transit and for an 8 or 9-hour work shift. I used to work nights myself for a collective number of 6 years and working now during the day for close to five years, I will have to say that I have enough years of experience to write about the joys and dips of working nights. Most moms who work  nights would bend over backwards just to make sure the kids will never have to notice that mom went to work while I was sleeping.  And so the vicious cycle of staying up to as much as 18 to 20 hours a day is sometimes required. Moms who work nights would get home and join breakfast, function auto pilot as if she also had 8-hour-sleep. Engage in conversation around news, how everyone will spend their days and plan for the weekends (where moms don’t get to sleep until Saturday night coming off work Saturday mornings).

Back when I used to work nights, my day hours would stretch to noon, just in time to ensure all kids have taken a bath and your ever reliable household help angel has prepped everything for lunch. Then it is finally time to sleep. Yes, just as the afternoon sun has kicked in, in all its hotness glory, it is time to sleep. Imagine following this rigor every summer. Thank God for air-conditioning units. Unless you leave your bedroom door open, one or two hours into sleep, you hear little knocks on the door, your toddler or any of your kids wanting to cuddle. This is where you can make things work by encouraging kids to have afternoon naps with you. I just hope that what they want is cuddle and not play time because if so, you can say goodbye to your planned 6 hours sleep and ease your way off bed for a 4-hour sleep instead.

Of course, the same cycle repeats itself because before you know it, evening news is on which signals you to get going and prep for work. So how did I make it work while working nights?

1. God is my 24/7 God – bigger than any of the things I encounter – Working at nights did not have to change the way I see my season with God. Whether you wake up at 5pm or at 5am, you can go get your Bible, read up on God’s promises and believe Him for His perfect timeline and perfect control over things that may seem overwhelming for you. Learned how not to focus on anything that can be a source of worry, doubt, discouragement or tension just by believing who God is and what He can do over my season. Doing this overtime and you certainly realize that you wake up with a fresh supply of faith, strength and joy day on day (or night on night J). Because there are a lot of things I don’t get to do myself or be on top of while I work at night,  all the more reasons that I clung on to God and have Him take care of the things I cannot control and take care of. I may not be able to keep an eye on my family at night but God can. I may not be present on everything during the day but God is present. This is the biggest assurance I had that allowed me to trust, depend and rely on God heavily.
2.  Communication Is Also Open at Night – ways to communicate may be different, thus, most moms would find communicating challenging. You can maintain normalcy by making ‘how are you doing’ phone calls to husband anytime. If your husband is like mine, he would also be up on my 4am break just so he can ask if I already had lunch. Otherwise, you can always wait until you get home in time for breakfast. It can get challenging only if husband would have a totally opposite schedule than you do. There was a season when I would work nights and husband would be on mid-shift, making it impossible for us to share a meal for 5 straight days. Other than using the phone real-time, this was when a Logbook came in handy. Husband and I agreed to write down our thoughts when we get home and before we leave home. This sustained us for half a year. We still sometimes get back to reading the logbook whenever we thank God for sustaining us through different seasons of our marriage and family life. Where other couples would take aligned work hours for granted, this season ultimately changed the way we view our time with each other count. We would never have discovered that we can arrange a child’s birthday party via a logbook update (that’s for another writing J).
3.  Do not be such a Darna – this is where you agree to have all the help you can get from your family and friends. Make your schedule work around what is important, knowing when to prioritize taking time off some nights to be there for kids’ milestones. It is an advantage that most school events are during the day, although the downside to it is having less hours of sleep before another worknight. Never commit the mistake of wearing the grouchy hat when you are home. Better ask help from family and friends when things get too taxing for you (e.g. after recreation activities for kids with extended family, afternoon playdate with friends, or even catch up afternoons with your kids’ ninongs and ninangs). Imagine it from your kids’ limited perspective. You never want to be the mom who is always asleep or the mom who is grouchy when awake.

Critical to making this work is being honest with your spouse. Develop a transparent relationship with your spouse, do not be afraid to seek help or discuss your options when needed.

I am taking my hats off to ALL moms who work nights, moms whose heart for family is just as big as those who work during the day. To all the moms who stay home, work from home or step out of the house to work, thanking you for all your labor and love for all the kids who make up today’s world. For the stay at home moms whose work is equal to those who work full time, thanks for being the kind of mom you are and for showing us all that mommyhood is both fun and fulfilling. Happy Mothers’ Day to all!

God’s promises whether you sleep at night or during the day:

 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

Summer Hair is Dry Hair? Nah!

Summer hair reprieve, here comes Pura d’or Shampoo. I know you may not be familiar with the different sounding name. May be a new name on a shelf of shampoos but looked up the shampoo and was impressed about positive reviews. Pura d’or Argan Oil Organic Shampoo Hair Loss Prevention may be from the US but is now available in the Philippines.

I do not know about you but it is a common picture for me to have strings of hair on my brush right after combing. After shampoo experience requires me to clean up the bathroom drain because of hairfall. Whether or not it is just hairfall or hair loss you want to fix, give Pura d’or Argan Oil Organic Shampoo Hair Loss Prevention  a try.

What I am liking about Pura d’or Argan Oil Organic Shampoo Hair Loss Prevention

Prevents Hair Loss

Strengthens Hair

Adds Volume

All Natural and Organic

Vitamins for Hair Growth

NO Paraben, NO SLS and Gluten Free

12 DHT Blockers

Saying goodbye to hair loss has just become easy.

Join the Pura d’or Shampoo 

Worldwide Giveaway!

Enter the giveaway here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:This is a sponsored post on behalf of Pink Heart String. The participating bloggers advertising this giveaway are not responsible for prize fulfillment. One winner will be randomly selected using the Rafflecopter random selector and notified via email by the hosts of this giveaway, Pink Heart String. The prize will be provided by Pura d’or who will ship the same to the winners. Once notified, the winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Pink Heart String will send the contact details of the winner to Pura d’or and they will be responsible in sending the prize to the winners. Winners will get either of the two products in the photo. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest or Google. Void where prohibited. Open Worldwide.

“Qik or It Didn’t Happen!”

With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day just around the corner, what better way to send message than through video messaging? It is always inspiring and personal to send a message quickest way. With Skype Qik, mobile video messaging will never be the same.

Remembering how my son and myself would spend time watching Pentatonix music videos one after another, now it is easier for me to bring quick cheer to him anytime of the day via a video message on Skype Qik. Interesting finds of the day does not have to be still images anymore. Now I always have the option to show hubby how my kids funnily put up a tent right outside the house to beat the summer heat.

Relatives from overseas also can now be updated and will never miss a celebration back home with it. Download it on any device and you can connect and invite anyone regardless of the distance. Record away and ground send all you like.

Skype Qik is a quick video messaging/communication app that allows you to exchange instant and quick video messages for free. It enables you to capture videos that are up to 40 seconds long, and and send them to group of friends. Skype Qik is available on iPhone, Android, and Windows phones. More about Skype Qik here:http://www.skype.com/en/qik/

Madrid Fusion Manila 2015 at SM Supermalls

Manila, Philippines- SM, the host to the first Madrid Fusion Manila, held a cuisine demonstration at Sarsa Kitchen + Bar, Mall of Asia last April 16, 2015. Chef Bruce Ricketts, Chef Rob Pengson and Chef Claude Tayag, the Philippines’ finest representatives to the Madrid Fusion Manila Congress showcased their mastery in cooking, with a special participation of Chef JP Anglo. Madrid Fusion Manila is happening on April 24-26, 2015 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

SM, in partnership with Department of Tourism and Madrid Fusion Manila, provides a platform to expand ideas and experiences in strengthening culinary innovation. SM has the vital tasks of bringing the richness of our culinary heritage to a global audience in Madrid Fusion Manila and to share this great celebration to our fellow Filipinos through festive activities in SM Malls nationwide.

Chef Bruce Ricketts

Known to be one of the youngest chefs in Manila, Chef Bruce used his experiences from famous restaurants in California to prove that age has nothing to do with success.

Chef Bruce studied Culinary Management at the Art Institute of San Diego. It was his mentor Jason Knibb who made him understand ingredients and changed the way he

Chef Rob Pengson

Rob Pengson is a rebel of sorts. And this fact is apparent in the food he serves at The Goose Station, the restaurant he has built together with his wife Sunshine. The restaurant, regarded as the first tasting menu focused establishment in the metro, is known for its inventive, thought-provoking, even groundbreaking cuisine that challenges traditional cuisine by ignoring dogma and infusing culture and heritage into cooking.

Chef Claude Tayag

Self-taught culinary savant, Claude Tayag is known to have uplifted Pampango/Kapampangan cuisine through Bale Dutung (Wooden House), his abode turned into a by-reservation-only restaurant serving traditional Pampango cuisine. Spicing up Chef Claude’s culinary career is his passion to preserve the diversity of the Filipino cuisines which he showcased at the Peabody Hotel’s Chez Philippe Restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, when he was invited to serve his special selection of Filipino cuisine at the Memphis in May Festival 2012.

Highlighting the best in food, art and culture of the Philippines, these chefs shared to the guests the delectable dishes that are proudly Filipino. With their artful skill in creating wonderful meals, it is such a delight to know that the Philippines has so much excellence to offer in the culinary world.

Madrid Fusion Manila is the first culinary festival with Spain and Asia’s legendary chefs Andoni Luis Aduriz, Elena Arzak, Quique Dacosta, Ramón Freixa, Francis Paniego, Paco Roncero, Mario Sandoval, Paco Torreblanca, André Chiang, and Alvin Leung. Presenting the Philippines’ own diverse and imaginative epicurean traditions are chefs Fernando Aracama, Margarita Forés, J Gamboa, José Luis “Chele” Gonzalez, Pepe Lopez, Rob Pengson, Bruce Ricketts, Myrna Dizon, Claude Tayag, and Juan Carlos de

SM Gourmet Weekend Market

A feast of everything delectably Filipino-Spanish shall delight foodies at the Gourmet Weekend Market from April 24 to 26 at SM Mall of Asia. A premium selection of cheese, tapas, wine, ingredients, local finds and special bundles shall be made available in partnership with SM Markets (SM Supermarket and Hypermarket).

SM Spanish Food Specials

New food concepts that reflect culinary innovation and technique will be available only this April at select SM Mall of Asia restaurants where special dishes with Spanish influence or cooked with the finest local produce, ingredients and flavors are sure to bring out your inner foodie. On April 24 to 26, irresistible dining deals await all food lovers at SM Megamall’s flagship and first-in-the-country dining destinations and the newly-opened Mega Food Hall.

For the complete schedule of events at SM malls, visit SM Supermalls on Facebook or @smsupermalls on Instagram. For more information on how to register for Madrid

Fusion Manila 2015, visit http://www.madridfusionmanila.com.

“To Work or Not to Work?”, Is there One Mom Type Better? SAHM-WAHM-WFTM

All media and social network channels are flooded with advertisements catering to moms. The “mommy network” is such a big commercial industry that most of the advertisers and product owners would do everything to get moms’ buy-ins. Let us admit the fact that all of these try to have a say on what type of mom one should be. However, considering that there are just too many mom types now, you have your stay-at-home moms (SAHM), your work-from-home moms (WAHM) and your working-full-time-moms (WFTM), it is so easy to get lost in the myth that one type is better than the other. And too many moms are also prone to committing the easy mistake of asserting (whether through conscious or non-conscious language) that she is playing the best mom-type. Case in point: see two myth busters below.

Truth#1: There is nothing wrong about being a working mom. This is particularly true especially if you know your correct list of priorities: God, marriage, kids, extended family, work, ministry and all the rest. Allow me to acknowledge as well that there is nothing wrong about being a SAHM or a WAHM, not discounting the fact that I was raised by my mom who has played all roles in her lifetime, worked fulltime, worked from home, now a stay at home mom. It is probably society or present culture that dictates and expects moms to be perfect, raising disciplined children who are models of well-behaved kids, be the number 1 cheerleader of their husbands and most fervent prayer advocate and show up pretty on all events with the most delicious kitchen concoction on hand. For most, it is just ain’t perfect if the moms who have got it all together happen to be working. I do not know about you but I know of countless working moms or mom entrepreneurs who are able to raise responsible, God-loving and successful kids. So if you are a working mom, clarify your reason, your view and your real heart for work. It is possible to regard work as a blessing (and not a burden). It will not make you weird if you find joy from working while finding joy in balancing it with mom-tasks of managing the house and parenting. And ultimately, it doesn’t make your husband less of a leader at home when you work. Decide to work or not to work because you know that your choice around it will never add or remove your right standing with God. Personally, I work because I know it is a season for me to do so. I am not in it to feed a lavish lifestyle or because I love money more than my family or because I do not have faith to believe God for more. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise. But it is a choice I make because God has given me limitless grace to do so with ultimate joy. Like all working moms or mom entrepreneurs, one day, God may call me or may never call me to be a stay-at-home mom, but I do not need to fret or sulk because I know what God can do over my marriage, my kids and my future.

Truth#2: SAHMs, WAHMs and WFTMs are not different from each other.  The same set of questions run around their heads and the measure of love they feel towards their family is one and the same. A mom who is not happy being a Working full time Mom (WFTM) will most likely, not be a happy stay at home mom (SAHM) or an unhappy Work from home mom (WAHM). It is my prayer that your happiness or fulfilment as a mom does not come from what you do but from knowing who God is and from trusting what He can do over whatever role you play. How to do a correct mindset check? Answer the question: Considering the status of your marriage, parenting, house management and family relationships, do you see that your role to ______ (work, stay at home, work from home) is certainly what God is telling you to do? If you easily answered yes to this question, then you may be on the right track. If you are being led by God to do things differently, pray and God will grant wisdom and clarity around how to transition. Discuss it with your husband with the perspective that it is God who provides and who does not add any trouble to blessings. Do not make decisions or maintain decisions out of fear. Never discuss it around how other people are expecting you to function or how my husband’s boss would want us to do it. Remember that your calling is ‘personal’ and never patterned from anyone else’s. If you find it similar with most people you are surrounded with, it doesn’t mean that your type is better than the other. Never make the mistake of looking at other mom types differently or less effective. Your goal in life does not include convincing everyone to be the same mom-type you are but to be a blessing to any mom-type without setting yourself apart with biased languages, actions or preferences. Pretty much as how Jesus has done it, He has never regarded Himself better than the others but found to be interacting, healing and blessing people of all sizes and shapes.

At the end of the day, whatever mom type you are now, your provision will never come from your single-income or your double-income. Most of our big blessings did not really come from my pay envelope but from other channels of blessings that God has used in the past. Your decision about what lifestyle to keep for your children is a decision you have to make with your spouse and will come with different set of responsibilities. As long as your mom role does not take you away from your real priorities, do not entertain any form of guilt about not delivering enough. After all, the key is trusting God for your ability to mother. Count on His infinite grace to make your God-given mom-role work for you.