Everyone is Talking
About how being a mom is the same as working 2.5 jobs.
Why do I care?
Welch’s commissioned a study in 2017 that surveyed 2,000 moms of school-aged children ages 5-12. In the study, it found that the average mom get’s about 1 hour 7 minutes of time to herself each day. We’d love to say we’re surprised, but alas.
Tell me more.
When talking to Yahoo! News, Casey Lewis, MS, RD and Health & Nutrition Lead at Welch’s said, “The results of the survey highlight just how demanding the role of mom can be and the non-stop barrage of tasks it consists of.”
According to a study done by the Department of Labor, 70 percent of moms with children under 18 also participate in the workforce with 75 percent of that number working full-time. This only adds to an already large load on a mom.
The Welch’s study took things a bit further and asked moms about their sanity savers and we love that. Solutions and making time for yourself is SO important – no matter how big or small. Within the top 20 on the list: coffee, drive-thru meals, technology and a support system through family or reliable sitters all ranked high. #coffeeislife
Don’t be afraid to take that coffee break or ask for help – lighten your load a bit. You’re worth it.
In the Trenches
A new ‘smoking’ trend is on the rise with teens called ‘Juuling’ and it has parents and health professionals on alert. A ‘Juul’ is an e-cigarette that comes in the form of a small, sleek device that resembles a flash drive. Many teens (and adults alike) think e-cigarettes are a safe practice that doesn’t come with risks. The reality however, is there are cancer causing chemicals in e-cigarettes. Each Juuling pod comes with nicotine exposure equating to one pack of cigarettes. Since Nicotine is a known addictive substance that is linked to Cancer we’re thinking it’s time to re-visit that smoking convo with the kiddos.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Parenting style is a known factor on a child’s health and well-being, but what impact does it have on you? According to experts, depending on your approach to parenting, you could also be negatively/positively affecting the health of yourself. In the piece, they discuss three different parenting styles – Helicopter, Authoritarian and Authoritative with Positive Parenting.
The experts discuss how Helicopter parents may be parenting from a place of anxiety. This parent may have a need to control outcomes and are often perfectionists who put a lot of pressure on themselves. As a result, they affect the child’s overall well-being but also their own including an impact on digestive and heart health.
Authoritarian is a style that may be seen as ‘old-school parenting’ or the ‘my way or the highway’ approach. According to the experts, this approach also comes from a place of anxiety and a need for controlling outcomes. The longer term effect may be a child that rebels, leading to even more anxiety for the parent and the negative health effects that can be involved.
The experts offer advice for dealing with Helicopter and Authoritarian parenting tendencies that are insightful and useful. They expand on those tips by recommending the Authoritative and Positive Parenting approach as an alternative parenting style. This style of parenting is less stressful for child and parent. The parent allows children to explore at an age appropriate time while also providing consistent structure. They argue that parents tend to know their child better alleviating which in turn lessens overall anxiety and a need to control.
Parting Thoughts
Interested in the best places to live for working moms? In May of 2017, Wallet Hub put out their list of top contenders based on 50 states along with the District of Columbia. They looked at 13 key metrics within the following three categories: childcare options, work-life balance and professional opportunities. Where did your state fall on the list?
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