Will Marissa Mayer Redefine Work Life Balance and be the New Role Model for Working Moms?

Less than a month after The Atlantic Magazine published Anne-Marie Slaughter's controversial cover story "Why Women Still Can't Have It All,  Yahoo hired Marissa Mayer, a pr
egnant 37 year old, as its new CEO.

Mayer told Fortune magazine, "I like to stay in the rhythm of things... My maternity leave will be a few weeks long and I'll work throughout it."
Will she regret these words? Will the birth of her first child, a boy, slow her down from the 90 hour work weeks she is famous for thriving on?

Will she, like former Sara Lee Chairperson and CEO (and PepsiCo executive) Brenda Barnes regret working round the clock when her children w
ere growing up, and take a multi-year hiatus to spend the last few years before her kids leave the nest?

Or will she, like many other women executives with children, including Sheryl Sandberg, just keep marching on while normal working women like me wonder how they do it? Will Maris
sa Mayer debunk Anne-Marie Slaughter's premise?

Anne-Marie Slaughter, and Brenda Barnes are perhaps women I most identify and look up to, based on my own personal choice to stay at home with my kids and shape my work around their schedules. Another hotshot woman executive will perhaps not dramatically change how I feel about my children and my decision to stay/work at home for the time being. From my experience, I will not be comfortable delegating some of my child-rearing, as these leading women executives most certainly need to.

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Yet my grandmother was a working mother, and mom turned out OK! Goes to show how every woman is different, and each successful as a mother.

Suggested reading (my Yahoo Finance article): Finding Work Life Balance After Kids

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

How to Pick the Right Preschool for Your Child

When my first born was about to turn three, I realized he needed more social interaction and explored sending him to preschool. I wanted to choose the best preschool, nursery or daycare--whether it was public or private, Montessori, Progressive or church-affiliated. I also wondered if I should home school until kindergarten. I asked some of my friends and neighbors, and I received overwhelmingly positive feedback on their children's preschool or daycare. This led me to believe that choosing the right daycare, preschool or kindergarten is a very personal decision, and everyone's opinion varies. I needed to identify our priorities, so I focused on what I really wanted in my child's first school and what would be a deal-breaker.

I read a very informative booklet published by the U.S. Department of Education that had a series of questions to ask ourselves and the elementary school. Some of the questions applied to nursery schools, preschools, daycares, and Montessories. This booklet reiterated that in reality, there was no "best school" only one that was the best fit for each child and his or her family.
Since I was open to the idea of relocating, my choices were varied and included 1) local public preschools, 2) public preschools in some other districts we were open to relocating, 3) private preschools, 4) daycares that followed a preschool-like curriculum, and 5) home schooling. I ruled out exclusive home schooling since we wanted social interaction for our child. Amongst the private schools, there were several affiliated with religious faiths, and others than were co-operative or Montessori.

Can we afford private preschool tuition? Annual tuition for private preschools in our area ran up to $19,000 for full day programs. While this was definitely cheaper than several Manhattan schools that charged $30,000-40,000, obviously my husband and I needed to prioritize our own retirement, our children's college education , etc. above private preschool and elementary school. Since school taxes were approximately half of our property taxes, sending a child to private preschool also meant not reaping the benefits of paying those property taxes.

We were not ready to make our decision based on finances alone. Some other questions I considered were:

* What is the demographic mix and will our child fit in?
* How long is the school day?
* Is after school care available?
* Does the preschool run through higher grades?
* What is the meals policy?
* How close is the school to our home?
* Do we have a preference for Montessori, Progressive Education or another special curriculum or philosophy?
* How involved do we have to be in school activities on a daily basis?
* Is there a preferential sibling admissions or tuition discounts?
* Will our child make the school age cut-off?
* What role should religion play?
* Do classrooms have computers?
* What is the discipline philosophy?
* What is the teacher to student ratio?
* Does the school offer special education, enrichment or advanced classes for children?
* Does the school have an honors or gifted and talented program for higher classes? * What does the school do to help develop character and citizenship?
* Where do graduates pursue their higher studies?

I narrowed the choices based on the answers to these questions. I attended Open Houses and toured a few preschools and met with both teachers and administrative staff. There are several public preschools in our city, and assignment was random (and varied from year to year). One of our key concerns was I could not meet the teacher of the class, and my child may have new classmates year to year.

In the end, I chose a private Montessori preschool that ran through kindergarten. What attracted us most to the preschool was that the curriculum was flexible to a certain extent, with the pace driven by the child's unique strengths and challenges. I also loved the mixed age (3-5 years) setting, which allowed my child to mentor younger children and learn from older ones. Although the Montessori method is not for all families, it was the right fit for ours.

Photo courtesy: freedigitalphotos.net

Building a Tax-Advantaged College Fund for My Children

Courtesy: sxc.hu

This time each year, invitations for high school graduations begin arriving. Another year approaches towards sending my own kids to college. Like many parents, we are saving for our children's college education. However, there are many options to choose from, including 529 Plans, UTMA/UGMA, Coverdell ESA, Roth IRA and Education Savings Bonds, many of which are tax advantaged. Which ones do I like?

A Yahoo Finance article: First Person: Building a Tax-Advantaged College Fund for My Children

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-person-building-tax-advantaged-college-fund-children-183000212.html 

Super Easy Mother's Day Treat Recipes for Kids

With Mother's Day just around the corner, dads and older siblings are probably trying to find what to make for mom. Here are some simple treat ideas to surprise and delight your mother or grandmother for mother's day. Although adult supervision is needed, they can be prepared by kids three to five years old, using readily available items from the supermarket. So encourage your budding sous chef to whip up these mother's day treats. No prior cooking experience is necessary. The recipes are ranked in order of difficulty, even though my 4 year old son was able to make all of them, and boy was he proud!

Heart Shaped 3 Layer Strawberry No-Bake “Cake”

Active cook time: 10 minutes

Nothing says “I love you, Mom” like a breakfast in bed. While dad can make tea, have your preschooler make this special “heart shaped 3 layer strawberry cake.” It is not really a cake, but pretty and eminently edible, it is bound to bring smiles to your kids and mom. You will need two slices of mom's favorite sliced bread (something that goes well with jam), strawberry or mixed berry jam (I love Smucker's Orchard's Best, which is free of high fructose corn syrup), and a heart shaped cookie cutter.

Help your child use the cookie cutter to cut out four heart shaped pieces of bread. Using a spoon or knife, spread strawberry jam on three pieces of the bread. Arrange carefully on top of each other to make the cake. Happy Mother's Day!

Chocolate covered strawberries

Active cooking time: 10 minutes, post prep time: 30-60 minutes

Peak strawberry season is fast approaching, and they are my favorite fruit for dipping in chocolate. Strawberries are also the right size for kids to handle. You will need to purchase dipping chocolate, such as Baker's and a pound of strawberries, preferably with stems. If dad is a fancy cook, you can use any chocolate (or a couple of varieties) you want, and use a double boiler or stovetop. For everyone else, the microwave is the way to go. For easy cleanup, use parchment paper.

Wash and pat dry the strawberries. Follow package directions to melt the chocolate in the microwave, making sure not to overheat. Stir. Using a fork or a toothpick, have your child dip the strawberries, one by one, twirling as they go. Then carefully shake off excess chocolate and place on parchment paper. Repeat until done (dad might need to take over). Refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour until the chocolate coating is set. Carefully lift from parchment paper (usually comes off easily), and serve to your happy mom.

Icecream sundae Mini Phyllo Cups

Active cooking time: 15 minutes

This is a triple delight, with chocolate, ice-cream and a cherry to top off your fabulous Mother's Day treat. You will need chocolate chips (any kind, say dark chocolate for mom, milk for the kids), Athens Mini Fillo Shells or another brand of pre-made phyllo dough cups, mom's favorite ice cream and and a jar of maraschino cherries. You will also need a cookie sheet and some parchment paper.

Set oven to preheat to 350 degrees. Arrange parchment paper on a cookie sheet, then place frozen phyllo cups. Place 3-4 chocolate chip cookies in each cup. When oven is ready, bake phyllo cups according to package directions, usually 3-5 minutes, keeping an eye not to burn the cups or the chocolate. When cups appear to just start getting crisp, remove. Spoon one teaspoon of mom's favorite ice cream. Add sprinkles. Top off with a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.

Interesting articles in WSJ and NY Times that mirror my thoughts/experiences

WSJ: Customers Say to Cable Firms, 'Let's Make a Deal'
Want cheaper cable television? Try asking for it, says the WSJ.
Here is how I chased and got an awesome deal on cable's Triple Play.
First Person: Chasing Discounts on TV Service


Why Books Are Better than e-Books for Children
New research suggests when we read with a child on an e-reader, we may actually impede our child’s ability to learn. Here is the NY Times article.
Here is why I won't be buying an e-book reader anytime soon.
First Person: I Am Not Buying or Gifting an E-book Reader This Year

Investing in Our State's 529 College Savings Program

Total cost of four college for my two children is estimated to be over $550,000 in aggregate. We are saving for this daunting goal primarily through the New York state-sponsored college savings plan. Read more here...

Disclaimer: The author is a former investment professional who is currently not employed in the financial services industry, as such she does not maintain her securities licenses. 529 accounts are not insured by FDIC and may lose value. This article is personal opinion and should not be considered a recommendation or solicitation.

Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids During Winter Break

Its almost here. The holidays are coming, so is the dreaded winter break and cabin fever that comes along with it. Here are a few crafts, games and activities to keep the kids engaged and parents sane during Christmas break, in New York and around the country. Read more here!

Early Parenting Mistakes and How to Overcome Them

Like most first time mothers, I thought I prepared myself for parenting by reading books and taking classes. Yet, I felt totally unprepared when my son was born. Lessons in parenting were learned along the way but I did make some early parenting mistakes. When I gave birth again, my real-life experience of being a mom made me feel prepared and much less prone to making mistakes. Today, both my children are happy and healthy kids. Read more here.

Where to Get a Flu Shot for Cheap (or Free)!

Flu Shot--Free or Cheap Flu Shots in Your Neighborhood


The 2012 winter flu season is being called the worst in many years. The CDC is expected to provide an update on the epidemic on Friday. Shortages are periodically being reported across the country.

 Every year in the fall, I call around my local pharmacies to see if the flu shot is in stock. I also ask about prices and if they accept insurance (in which case they would be free). Last year, I found a local family pharmacy to be the cheapest, at $25 and an urgent care facility, to be the most expensive, at $40.

Most chain store pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade etc., supermarket pharmacies like Shop Rite, A&P and big box retailers like Wal Mart and Target offer flu shots. The price range for flu shots at most appear stores to be $28-40.
Many local hospitals and senior centers also offer free flu shots starting in October. Such information is usually available on the City Hall website. Large employers often offer flu shots as well, although it is typically offered on only one day.

You can always go to your general physician and get a flu shot. Your charge will most likely be your co-pay ($5-30), unless you time it with your free annual well-visit. As long as you do not ask the doctor questions regarding other illnesses (which may cause they to bill as an office visit versus a well visit), most pediatric patients do not have to pay a co-pay for well-visits, like a flu shot.

If you have insurance or Medicare Part B, your flu shot may actually be free! Wal Mart has a list of approved insurances. For example, if you have Blue Cross, your out of pocket expense will be zero. Walgreens also accepts several insurance plans, including Cigna. However, many CVS locations use a third party provider (Minute Clinic), which is usually considered out of network by insurances, and therefore you will be charged.

Remember, if the provider hands you a reimbursement form, chances are that the amount to be reimbursed will be lower than your out of network deductible, in which case you will be responsible for the entire amount.

Information on the seasonal flu vaccine and mist is available at the CDC website.