Looking to get back into the workforce, or figure out how to balance work and home? Next week (May 15) the Detours&OnRamps Forum hits the Boston area. This one-day event will cover issues facing working mothers and will provide resources for jumpstarting a job hunt, or ideas for making a career work for you and your family. I’ll be speaking on one of the panels so please feel free to stop by and say hi. And if you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time; mention 'BOSTONMAMA' on registration to receive $25 off the $125 fee.

Posted 8 May 2008 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a certified lactation consultant and About.com’s Breastfeeding Guide. In particular, Melissa and I connected to talk about the dad (or partner) factor when it comes to breastfeeding. We had a fabulous time chatting; read on for highlights from the interview (a Boston Mamas first!), where we cover role shifts, dad/partner involvement, pumping, nighttime feeding, baby nurses, co-sleeping, bottle feeding battles, postpartum depression, the supermom syndrome, and re-lactation:

Continue reading "The Dad Factor" »

Posted 4 Apr 2008 in Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace; Pregnancy & Postpartum | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

If you feel as if technology is taking over your life, you’re not alone. Today, Nataly Kogan of Work It, Mom! shares her concerns about the role that technology plays in her family’s life, and offers suggestions for making small – but meaningful – changes to stem the tech tide.

Continue reading "Stem the Tech Tide" »

Posted 26 Mar 2008 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

To help get your ducks lined up for next week, today, Nataly Kogan of Work It, Mom! shares five tips to help working moms achieve a little more calm going into - and during - the work week. My favorite is #5 (the ultimate goal being to reduce the number of dreaded to-dos).

Continue reading "Work Week Strategies" »

Posted 7 Mar 2008 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Today, I’m pleased to introduce new content partner Nataly Kogan, a Boston mama and co-founder of Work It, Mom! Nataly will contribute cross-posts that are relevant to working moms and life/work balance. Welcome, Nataly! And here are her 5 tips for better Mondays:

Continue reading "Monday Makeover" »

Posted 4 Feb 2008 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

This is, in web terms, old news, but I just heard this morning about the current (maddening) dispute between Harvard medical student Sophie Currier and the National Board of Medical Examiners, who rejected her request for additional break time during the 9-hour licensing exam in order to pump breast milk for her 4-month-old daughter (see Globe 9/21, NYT 9/10). Clearly, the board doesn’t include members who have suffered engorgement, leaking breasts, or the trying ritual of pumping, and they should be embarrassed by this outright lack of practical and physiological consideration for modern working mothers.

Posted 25 Sep 2007 in Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (5) | E-mail this link

As Jon and I adjust to juggling his new multi-site schedule and my work needs, one car, the never ending list of household errands (requiring said one car), and Laurel’s periodic resistance to heading to her new preschool room, it seems as if we spend an inordinate amount of time figuring out how many minutes it takes to do X, Y, or Z. And this morning’s realization that I’d do well to trade sitting-in-rush-hour minutes for much needed exercise was well timed with a blog blast our pals at The Parent Bloggers Network are running in conjunction with Ryka. All bloggers are invited to submit posts today (by midnight PST) about how you stay active with kids in the mix; randomly selected bloggers will win sneakers or an entire outfit (including sneakers) from Ryka (click here for details)!

Continue reading "Multitasking Minutes: The Squat & Edit" »

Posted 14 Sep 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Truly, I'm not prone to histrionics, so take me at my word when I say that yesterday made me feel as if I was a priority to no one. Part of the problem is the overstretched, overwhelmed state that seems like the modern motherhood status quo; the other (related) part involves my rampant yes tendencies, even in the face of absurd requests. Read on to find out how I unraveled (and then, lest you think this is pure rant, I’ll provide a resource to consider if you feel similarly overwhelmed, overbooked, and overlooked):

Continue reading "Just Say No" »

Posted 30 Aug 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Sadly, if you’ve ever nursed in public, you likely have, at some point, been subject to unsolicited comments, criticism, rubbernecking, or even ejection off the premises. If you have a story to share, MomsRisingPV, the political arm of the Massachusetts-based MotherWoman, has launched a campaign to advocate for the rights of mothers to breastfeed in public.

Continue reading "Breastfeeding Rights Campaign" »

Posted 22 Aug 2007 in Feeding & Nursing; Local; Mama in the Workplace; Outreach | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

When it comes to organization, some folks are wed to digital solutions, some to paper, and some dabble in both. If you find yourself in either of the two latter categories, check out the BusyBodyBook grid organizer.

This spiral bound weekly planner features five blank columns for each day of the week, allowing you to fill in and see five schedules (e.g., family members) or activities/projects (e.g., academic subjects, work projects, personal goals) in parallel (click here to see the layout). Four chic cover styles are available: the academic year (Aug. ’07 – Sept. ’08) in Dots (shown) and Stripes, and the calendar year (Jan. – Dec. ’08) in Zigzag and Brown.

Continue reading "Parallel Work & Play" »

Posted 15 Aug 2007 in Home; Mama in the Workplace; Solutions | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Over the years, Jon and I have received repeated confirmation that making space in life and taking leaps of faith – whether they are physical, financial, or emotional – allows good things to breathe into existence. We’ve found this to be the case with situations as mundane as unexpectedly receiving household items right after getting rid of older versions (but before buying replacements), and as important as quitting unbearable jobs before figuring out the next step (and then having an opportunity open up).

Continue reading "A Desk to Call Your Own" »

Posted 24 Jul 2007 in Decor & Furniture; Home; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Dear Readers: As you may know, part of my professional reinvention this year involved ditching daily data crunching for art, editing, and publishing. It’s been a year of mammoth leaps, and while you’ve (knowingly or not) shared in this journey with me virtually to date, I invite you to join me in another leap next month in person.

Continue reading "Meet the Mama!" »

Posted 16 Jul 2007 in Fun Indoors; Local; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Since becoming a parent, whenever I feel overwhelmed by stress, household minutia, and/or the seeming inability to pee or shower in private, I repeat the airline mantra, “Secure your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” Moms are notoriously challenged in tending to their own needs; today, Tracy offers thoughts on how to work towards better self-care (and she’s a doctor, so listen up!):

Continue reading "Me First" »

Posted 3 Jul 2007 in Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

July marks the 1st birthday of Boston Mamas, and September will mark a year since I left research to make a go of it on my own professionally. I feel grateful every day for making the jump, but - not surprisingly - working independently brings a new set of challenges to the family system, such as feeling more (self imposed) pressure to take care of mundane household chores when I’m working at home, or dealing with the assumption that it’s easy for me to pick up the child care slack if Laurel gets sick or a family care arrangement disappears (e.g., earlier this week I found out from Sharon that my mom wouldn’t, in fact, be coming over to take care of Laurel as planned because she had flown South for a couple of days).

If you’re looking for solidarity in the struggle for balance, reader Julia from Newton wrote in to suggest Flux by Peggy Orenstein. Julia writes, “[It is] a wonderful book about the choices women make (or default into) about their lives.”

Posted 27 Jun 2007 in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Raise your hand if this scenario sounds familiar: you’re a reasonably healthy person who enjoys fresh air and a few moments to yourself. You may have even exercised regularly at some point within the last 10 years. Then you had a baby.

Ever since becoming a mom, exercise has lurked at the bottom of my priority list (save a stint during my postdoctoral fellowship where I hit the gym on the clock to cope with my misery…). Even now as a professionally happy freelancer, leisurely walks just don’t seem feasible since I constantly have more work than covered hours. If I’m walking I need to be multitasking or going somewhere; it’s not the most mindful, meditative approach, but I’ve come to terms with it.

Continue reading "Reason to Walk" »

Posted 8 May 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

The working mom balancing act is complicated enough without contradiction and irony littering the path. Today, without childcare, I was reminded of a recent unsettling discovery: the household is in much better shape on days when I am home with Laurel.

Perhaps this is just a function of a unique window in our lives, where we only have one kid who now enjoys independent play, or who is at a stage where we can chat and I can entertain her even if she isn’t sitting right on my lap. Or maybe Laurel’s penchant for stirring tuna fish and helping dump laundry out of the dryer has something to do with it. Whatever the factors, by lunch, a few days worth of tuna was made, the laundry done, the sink cleared, the living area straightened, and I even prepped some veggies for dinner while Laurel finished up lunch. Come to think of it, we also did a quick grocery and birthday present run this morning. Bizarre.

I don’t want to give up my work or Laurel’s school pals right now, so I guess I’ll just enjoy the tidiness today; no doubt the chaos will be back in full force tomorrow.

Posted 22 Mar 2007 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Whether you can check it out at home during regular broadcast, via TiVo, tape, or online, no doubt today’s Oprah show will be of interest to moms. Elizabeth Vargas discusses how motherhood impacted her decision to step down as the anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight and other moms share their perspectives on the ever present work vs. stay at home dilemma. Click here to see the results of Oprah’s Motherhood Poll.

Posted 23 Jan 2007 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

As an over extended working mom, there are few things more disheartening then being physically derailed on a week where: a) you learn that one of your major project deadlines is actually a week earlier than you thought; b) your babe is showing signs that suggest she may have to stay home from school; and c) your partner is under the gun working for the man and can’t take the day off to take care of sick baby, sick you, and the myriad household chores and errands that have piled up in your compromised state.

All week I have been suffering from a nasty bug that decided to tag on an excruciating earache a few days ago. I knew that it was a cold related symptom, likely due to a fluid drainage/pressure build up problem in the middle ear. But I was so debilitated by the pain yet freaked about my workload that I just kept pushing (groaning and feeling sorry for myself all along the way).

Continue reading "My New Friend" »

Posted 19 Jan 2007 in Bath, Beauty & Health; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Had I not been so stunned in the moment, I might have been embarrassed earlier this week when my former boss left me hanging, all dressed up with nowhere to go.

The event was a gala for his research institute; a chance to promote the goings on and solicit donations. I dreaded going, mostly because when I accepted the invitation I had chickened out of providing the stipulation that I be introduced as a lab alum, not as current faculty. (Despite repeated conversations otherwise, there still seems to be the impression that I’m returning to research once I finish raising Laurel.)

But softy that I am, I went. I rearranged my schedule and made childcare arrangements for Laurel. I killed time around Harvard Square after I found parking, distracting myself with some editing work. And then when I arrived at the gala venue, the lights were out and the doors locked. I walked around back to the security desk only to find out that the event was cancelled. The poor florist also hadn’t been called. The guard looked horrified by the idea of dealing with more befuddled guests. It was yet another example of the typical chaotic, surreal behavior that helped make it easier to quit my research job and I couldn’t believe I walked into the lair again.

And while the upshot was that I got to get all fabulous looking and still make it home in time to see Laurel before bedtime, these facts hardly negate the lack of notification for the party that never was. And why am I telling you this? To keep me honest. To remind me of why I’m here and not there. Thanks for reading.

Posted 9 Nov 2006 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail this link

I have an unofficial Mama Hall of Fame; among the members are a Canadian friend who has the most impressive poop-removal/soak/double-launder cloth diapering routine I’ve ever witnessed, and a local pal who – at about 79 lbs. soaking wet – nursed her first child for 26 months, her twins for 16 months, and is at 16 months and counting with her 4th baby.

This week there’s a new inductee on the block. The son of a dear friend unfortunately had latch on problems right off the bat. Continued efforts and extra time in the hospital were unsuccessful. My girlfriend, who experienced a long labor and lots of pushing, a C-section when things didn't progress, and manual expression of colostrum from her breasts by the nursing staff (ouch), was in dire need of a break.

Continue reading "Hall of Famers" »

Posted 7 Sep 2006 in Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

There isn't much sex appeal associated with pumping (I believe Jon let out an extended, definitive, and less than supportive "mooo!" when he first saw me pump), but if you’d like to feel - as a mama pal describes - “vaguely like [an Austin Powers] femme bot” (while pumping efficiently of course), try the Easy Expressions Bustier.

A terrific pump at work solution, the bustier makes hands-free double pumping easy through a strapless, zip-front design. Available in small (32-34), medium (34-36), large (38-40), and extra-large (42-44) for $33.95 (see the Breastfeeding Accessories section of BabyCenter).

Posted 6 Sep 2006 in Fashion; Feeding & Nursing; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

WorldWIT, a global network for women in business and technology, kicks off National Breastfeeding at Work Week (September 4-8, 2006) today. In addition to advocating for resources and education for nursing mothers, WorldWIT formally recognizes businesses that support nursing moms, and offers companies the opportunity to show their dedication to creating a work environment that supports nursing women via their Milk Works pledge program.

If you are nursing and returning to work, don’t be afraid to ask about space to pump. There may be resources in existence that you don’t know about, or your employer should (at the very least in good conscience) make accommodations so that pumping in bathroom quickly becomes a thing of the past.

Posted 4 Sep 2006 in Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

I knew I was in trouble this past spring when the torrential rains hit and I was left to grovel at the hospital gift store for a plastic bag to protect my laptop.

Although that bag saved my laptop’s life, it left something to be desired functionally. I scoured the market for a protective, stylish laptop tote. I didn't want another black bag, but some of the funkier bags were either too pricey and/or huge. As in, so huge they were practically approaching flight speed on their own. I nearly caved and bought one of the pricier totes, but I decided that I didn't want to be wed to one bag for laptop carry.

I finally hit upon just the right solution. The Sumdex Padded Laptop Sleeve fits laptops 13” x 10” x 1” and is available for $17.99 at Ebags. The sleeve is compact and protective, and so long as my bag du jour is big enough, I can match my bag to outfit instead of vice versa.

Note: At Ebags, click on the “Will my laptop fit?” link in the Product Features section to check for your laptop model’s size compatability.

Posted 16 Aug 2006 in Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

When situations seem particularly unjust, I drop my pleasant, accommodating demeanor and get ready to rumble. This is what happened 2 years ago when I learned that, as a federally funded research fellow (i.e., I brought in my own salary via an award from the NIH), I was not considered eligible for the same maternity leave benefits (i.e., 8 paid weeks of leave) as other hospital staff members. When I first looked into the leave issue, I was told that yes, I would get 8 weeks leave (the NIH and the hospital each would cover 4 weeks). Later I was told that my original information was incorrect; that research fellows only receive 4 weeks paid leave (meaning, NIH paid 4 weeks, the hospital paid nothing).

This rule added insult to injury on several counts. First, in general, 4-8 weeks of paid leave seems pretty stingy compared to leave benefits in other countries (for examples click here). Second, research fellows are overworked and underpaid as is (believe me, it’s bad). Third, the hospital doesn’t even pay the salaries of federally funded fellows + they require an exorbitant 79% above a fellow's total award for overhead fees -- yet they appeared to be shirking out of contributing 4 measly weeks of pay in accordance with typical staff benefits?

Continue reading "When Push Comes to Shove" »

Posted 2 Aug 2006 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

There’s a point to commuting after all. Yesterday, while mama multitasking before heading to the office (i.e., entertaining the babe on my lap while trying to clean up a few emails while talking on the phone), the babe reached over for the laptop, played for a minute, then made a break for it. I thought nothing of it. I begrudgingly headed to work.

I soon discovered that there was a foreign object lodged firmly under my “v” key. I think it was a crumb. All efforts to dislodge the crumb were unsuccessful. Copying and pasting became impossible. I spent the next 7 hours avoiding the “v” key.

The commute home was crowded and grumpy (trains were backed up and everyone was missing their connections) but I later discovered the silver lining behind the stinky train. While my explicit attempts to dislodge the crumb were in vain, having the laptop bounce along on its side in my bag during the commute home did the trick. So far I have yet to find the crumb under a different key.

Posted 26 Jul 2006 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Pregnancy obviously is a natural, necessary part of the circle of life, but things can get complicated and confusing when you have to think about pregnancy in the context of the workplace. Click here for an informative Q & A on pregnancy and employment, including topics such as interviewing when pregnant, breaking the news to your boss, maternity benefits, and discrimination.

Posted 25 Jul 2006 in Mama in the Workplace; Pregnancy & Postpartum | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Among taboo mama topics is that of how a mama feels about her maternity leave. Polarized responses such as “I’m so sad for my leave to end!” and “I can’t wait to get back to work!” are common.

Regardless of how you feel during leave time, it’s probably safe to say that all mamas feel some degree of guilt if and when they return to work. A Mayo Clinic article offers some helpful tips on how to ease transition, cope with guilt, and continue to breastfeed. An article from U. Michigan Medical also offers tips on returning to work and description of different types of child-care options.

Continue reading "Working Girl" »

Posted 25 Jul 2006 in Childcare; Feeding & Nursing; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

Okay, how funny is it that a feature on working mamas, appearing in today’s Globe, is written by Joanne Cleaver? I wish the byline just read “J. Cleaver” but it’s close enough. Fed to the Globe via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this article focuses on a current trend in the workplace, that of younger mamas negotiating for flexible schedules in order to achieve better work-home balance.

Posted 23 Jul 2006 in Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link

How much leave time should I take? This is a common question for working mamas and one with so many more questions and variables attached to it. What does your workplace offer? What are your job security guarantees (e.g., compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA)? How much unpaid leave time can you afford? Can your partner take leave time? Will you go berserk being home all day?

Continue reading "Take It or Leave It" »

Posted 23 Jul 2006 in Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace | Permalink | Comments (0) | E-mail this link