MASSACHUSETTS, USA: Finding Balance

My husband travels on business…A LOT. I don’t assume this is unusual nor that by reading this, you’ll feel sorry for me. It’s just the way the world seems to be going these days: as it grows smaller, so does the quality time we have to spend with family and  friends.

I used to see a great deal of my husband. When our daughter was born nearly five years ago, we lived in Washington, DC and we both had family friendly jobs. Most nights, we were home by 6 PM.

By the time our daughter was 10 months old, we had moved to Boston, I had stopped working and was home full-time with her while my husband attended business school.

He kept an erratic but flexible schedule. We would see a lot of him during the day and less when he had evening classes, once our daughter was in bed. (more…)

Kyla P'an (Portugal)

Kyla was born in suburban Philadelphia but spent most of her time growing up in New England. She took her first big, solo-trip at age 14, when she traveled to visit a friend on a small Greek island. Since then, travels have included: three months on the European rails, three years studying and working in Japan, and nine months taking the slow route back from Japan to the US when she was done. In addition to her work as Managing Editor of World Moms Network, Kyla is a freelance writer, copy editor, recovering triathlete and occasional blogger. Until recently, she and her husband resided outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where they were raising two spunky kids, two frisky cats, a snail, a fish and a snake. They now live outside of Lisbon, Portugal with two spunky teens and three frisky cats. You can read more about Kyla’s outlook on the world and parenting on her personal blogs, Growing Muses And Muses Where We Go

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of February 28th!

We close off February on Monday with Kyla P’an in Massachusetts. Kyla talks about the challenges of raising kids and maintaining her sanity while her husband travels on business!

On Tuesday, we go to New Jersey to hear from Veronica Samuels, who has recently discovered that she’ll be becoming a second-time Mom somewhat sooner than she had thought!

On Wednesday, we head off to Washington State to spend time with Eva Fannon, a working Mom who loves travel, the great outdoors, and of course, being a parent!

On Thursday, we fly across to Norway, where Ambre French talks about what it’s like to have those days that are just too much!

On Friday, Eva Fannon leads our Friday Question.  Don’t forget to check in and join in the conversation with our World Moms Blog writers!

We grow through word of mouth.  Help us spread the word about our blog by passing on our link, and be sure to weigh in on the questions posed by our writers throughout the week!

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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Friday Question: How far do you live from where you were born?

This week we asked our writers…  

“How far do you live from where you were born?”

Here are some of our writers’ responses …

Maggie Ellison of South Carolina, USA writes:
“I was born in the southern part of the US, but was raised in the northern part, over 800 miles away. Now, I am back in the south and just 275 miles away from my birth place.” (more…)

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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CANADA: Bedtime Chronicles

Bedtimes in my household fall into two distinct categories.

There are the “good” bedtimes, where both kids cooperate. They do what they need to in the bathroom, brush their teeth without a fuss, put on their pyjamas, and then lie down together quietly on James’ bed without fighting, waiting for their bedtime cup of milk and their story. They are model children, like little smiling angels.

Then, there are the “challenging” bedtimes (I hesitate to use the word “bad” because that sends negative karma into the universe). (more…)

Kirsten Doyle (Canada)

Kirsten Doyle was born in South Africa. After completing university, she drifted for a while and finally washed up in Canada in 2000. She is Mom to two boys who have reached the stage of eating everything in sight (but still remaining skinny). Kirsten was a computer programmer for a while before migrating into I.T. project management. Eventually she tossed in the corporate life entirely in order to be a self-employed writer and editor. She is now living her best life writing about mental health and addictions, and posting videos to two YouTube channels. When Kirsten is not wrestling with her kids or writing up a storm, she can be seen on Toronto's streets putting many miles onto her running shoes. Every year, she runs a half-marathon to benefit children with autism, inspired by her older son who lives life on the autism spectrum. Final piece of information: Kirsten is lucky enough to be married to the funniest guy in the world. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to check out her YouTube channels at My Gen X Life and Word Salad With Coffee!

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NEW JERSEY, USA: Am I Scared of Bullies?

When I was in graduate school for social work, I had to examine the role that boundaries played in my life.  Social workers often work with people in vulnerable circumstances.  Therefore, it is crucial to maintain clear boundaries to uphold professional integrity.

Problematic boundaries can be either too rigid or too loose.  People with rigid boundaries do not allow others to get close to them and are often guarded.  People with loose boundaries can be too open with others.  They do not want to upset or disappoint anyone.  It is important to be somewhere in between the two.

In examining my own boundaries, I discovered that they are a little on the loose side.  I have a hard time saying no to people.  I also avoid conflict.  I wondered how having loose boundaries would affect me as a parent.  Would I be able to appropriately protect my child when I struggle standing up for myself?  I feared that I would let my kids down.  Then it actually happened.

My family went to Ikea to buy a bookshelf for my five-year-old daughter’s bedroom.  My daughter LOVES Ikea because they have a playroom with a huge ball pit.  She begs me to leave her there while I shop.  Although I always have reservations about it, I say yes, let her play, and I shop as quickly as I can. (more…)