And the War Rages On...

If you're a mom, then you know the one.  It starts as a tiny feeling inside of us the moment we find out we're pregnant and often continues until our youngest child goes to school.  I mean, what mom hasn't had a should-I-stay-home-or-go-out-to-work debate, if not with others, then within herself?  The if-I-go-to-an-office-everyday-am-I-a-bad-mom struggle or the how-can-let-go-of-that-great-salary deliberation.  The great mommy debate continues and it seems to be louder than ever.

So it's incredibly appropriate that today marks the release of a special new book for moms everywhere: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms.   This book doesn't celebrate one choice over another.  Instead, it gives voice to the "power of choice for stay-at-home and work-at-home moms" by sharing 101 stories, written by women, some well-known, others less so, but all sharing one commonality: all are moms who have made a choice somewhere down the line.  Some chose to stay home and take care of their children full-time while others ventured back to the workplace.  Others chose to merge the two and work from home.  But all are stories of choice and strength and all reflect a certain honesty rarely found when discussing this topic.

As an avid reader, I admit to skipping straight to the stories contributed by two of my favorite authors: Jodi Picoult and Jane Green.  While Picoult's story offered a glimpse into the life of a work-at-home-mom turned stay-at-home-mom who chose to then moonlight as a writer (and a damn good one at that), Green's story took a different angle by shedding light on being a single mother who can still be super-mom while spending half her day doing what she loves, writing.

There are 101 stories in this book, and chances are every woman will find several to relate to.  And while I might not have the strength, courage or wherewithal to make the same choices as many of these women, I respect them for the decisions they made, and chose to write about. 

In Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms, you'll read about how Liz Lange raised her children while building a maternity clothing empire, how author Wendy Walker wrote her first novel from the backseat of her minivan, how Melora Hardin of NBC's The Office helped her daughter overcome  a fear of heights and how grateful husbands stand in awe of their do-it-all wives. 

Sound inspiring?  You can find Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms everywhere today, or you can win it!  Two lucky readers will win a copy of this new book.  Simply tell us a tidbit about your choice.  Anything from why you're glad you made the choice you did, to one thing you might regret, or how you came to make your decision.  Two winners will be chosen on Sunday, March 29th at midnight.  Open to US residents only!

Since I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book, I'll share that as a work-at-home mom, I felt grateful this morning when my daughter was sick with the flu that I had no boss to call to tell I wouldn't be in.  I was lucky about a month ago to be home to see my youngest daughter take her first steps.  But to say that I don't sometimes envy those women who actually had to drive to their office (as opposed to settle into their small workspace just off the living room), well, that might not be the whole truth...

Comments

[SANDY]

I made what choice which was right for me...I wanted to be home with the kids and be able to take care of husband- and working pt from home is what I do. I know some moms work, some don't..some don't want to work but have to, but in my own personal I did not want any regrets or want others raising my children, I wanted to experience and teach them.

[meredith]

This looks like an interesting book, I'd love to win it for my friend.

[Jean F]

I'm lucky enough to be able to work at home, and be there for my kids

[susan vanrey]

i have to work it isn't any fun mverno@roadrunner.com

[Jill Lear]

It's hard staying home with my kids. Financially, we've had to make lots of sacrifices and I'm not sure how equipped I will be when I return to the workforce. But let me tell you, it's worth every single sacrifice to know that I'm here with my kids getting to laugh and play with them and helping them to feel secure in this very insecure world.

[Denise]

I stay home with three kids plus a teenager. Its a lot more work than people think!

[Gina Stratos]

I've done both -- I've worked fulltime and I've stayed home. Either way, it's a sacrifice of something. I'm looking to do something different now and would love a little inspiration from this book. Thanks!
gkstratos@yahoo.com

[Catherine copeland]

About ten years ago the couple who founded the chicken soup series spoke to the teachers at my school. They were very inspiring people. at the time they were looking for stories about grandparents but they were really looking for stories where grandparents were still living.

The authors felt that teachers were inspirational. As a teacher and mother, I find mothers very inspirational.

[Tracy]

I'd love to win this for my mom, the ultimate power mom, a two time cancer survivor who is strength and grace personified and always manages to beat the odds. Go Moms!

[Susan Smith]

We chose for me to stay home with our kids. Living on one salary means no vacations or new cars but I'm happy to give them up to be with my kids

[wanda flanagan]

working mom here

[Gabriel J.]

Sounds like a great book. Great contest.

[Toby]

I was a stay at home mom to my 7 children who are now all grown and married with families of their own. I didn't start working again until my youngest was in school. I don't regret the time I gave them.

[Jenn Elliott]

I will be a stay at mom here shortly in the next few months, so wish me luck!

[Christina Gould]

I didn't have a choice, since I was a single parent when my daughter was growing up. The voice of experience here...it is usually much better for the children if there is a mom at home. I say usually because it's only better if the home is stable and the parents, mom especially, are happy and responsible. If mom is not attentive to the children, it's better to let daycare do it.

[Steve Scott]

I think that my wife would enjoy this.

[Christina]

It is difficult to be at home a much larger portion of the time, typing away at my computer while watching the out-of-doors through a window if I pull back my white lace curtain, but it's still DEFINITELY worth it! The only problem is that stay-at-home moms aren't given the same respect that women in the "real" world are!

[Jennifer G.]

I had planned to return to work since financially, it was necessary. But once I held my baby in my arms, everything changed. On maternity leave I would cry with the thought of being away from him all day and having some stranger raise my son. I then told my husband, I don't care what we do, but I am not returning to work. I clip coupons, buy store brands, and hardly shop for myself for anything, but I don't regret a thing! I couldn't imagine not raising my kids, period!!

[Ed Nemmers]

We chose the stay at home route.

[Laura Emerson]

Being a stay at home mom is one of the hardest jobs but most rewarding jobs in the world. For too long, others thought that if you stayed at home then you had no ambition. I chose this job as I have a lot of ambition, for myself and my family. We may not have all of the things our neighbors or friends do, but we chose one income over two so that our children would always have someone here. They will not remember the toys they did not have or the gadets they might have missed out on, but they will always remember a mom who was there when they came home from school and needed that extra hug or someone to wipe away their tears.

[nancy waychoff]

sounds like a great gift

[Lisa Taylor]

Trying to balance work and kids really becomes a challenge when working from home

[Angie O]

I am a stay at home mom (but only for the next 5 months) and am enjoying every minute of it.

[KarenPr]

Financially it would be better if we both worked, but I would miss out and then also factor in costs of daycare (which is extremely high here), and lunches, its better to stay home. We are hanging on, but it is all worth it. Thanks for the contest.

[Kathy Scott]

I have only been working from home since having kids. They are both in school all day so I think it might be time to broaden my horizons.