Saturday Layover for August 13th, 2011…

“I don’t want to be a mom.” 

When I first heard those words ring out of my 4-year old’s mouth, I was crushed.  I immediately thought that this was my fault.  Am I too hard on her?  Am I too strict?  Am I too neurotic? Does my job look boring to her? Is it because I stay home?

I thought about myself as a little girl, taking care of my dollies.  Yes, I wanted to be a mother, no doubt, as a little girl.  My daughter plays with toy dinosaurs all the time.  Was that the problem? Should I be providing an environment of more baby doll stuff?  Where had I gone wrong? (more…)

Jennifer Burden

Jennifer Burden is the Founder and CEO of World Moms Network, an award winning website on global motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. World Moms Network writes from over 30 countries, has over 70 contributors and was listed by Forbes as one of the “Best 100 Websites for Women”, named a “must read” by The New York Times, and was recommended by The Times of India. She was also invited to Uganda to view UNICEF’s family health programs with Shot@Life and was previously named a “Global Influencer Fellow” and “Social Media Fellow” by the UN Foundation. Jennifer was invited to the White House twice, including as a nominated "Changemaker" for the State of the World Women Summit. She also participated in the One Campaign’s first AYA Summit on the topic of women and girl empowerment and organized and spoke on an international panel at the World Bank in Washington, DC on the importance of a universal education for all girls. Her writing has been featured by Baby Center, Huffington Post, ONE.org, the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life, and The Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimists.” She is currently a candidate in Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs in the Executive Masters of Public Affairs program, where she hopes to further her study of global policies affecting women and girls. Jennifer can be found on Twitter @JenniferBurden.

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Friday Question: What is your biggest fear regarding your child(ren)’s future?

This week’s Friday Question comes from World Moms Blog writer Ambre French.  She asked our writers,

“What is your biggest fear regarding your child(ren)’s future?”

Check out what some of our World Moms had to say…

Ambre French of Norway writes:
“In the short term I was told that most of what you teach your children should be brought in by the time the kid reaches three, after that it’s just consolidation.  I’m scared to mess those years up! In the long term I am very afraid of drugs.” (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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BRAZIL: Interview with EcoZiva

BRAZIL: Interview with EcoZiva

Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?

I live in northeastern Brazil, slightly below the Equator. I have lived here for most of my life, but I was actually born in the USA to a Swiss father and a Brazilian mother of native descent.

What language(s) do you speak?

I speak English, Portuguese, French, and a little Spanish. (more…)

Ecoziva (Brazil)

Eco, from the greek oikos means home; Ziva has many meanings and roots, including Hebrew (brilliance, light), Slovenian (goddess of life) and Sanskrit (blessing). In Brazil, where EcoZiva has lived for most of her life, giving birth is often termed “giving the light”; thus, she thought, a mother is “home to light” during the nine months of pregnancy, and so the penname EcoZiva came to be for World Moms Blog. Born in the USA in a multi-ethnic extended family, EcoZiva is married and the mother of two boys (aged 12 and three) and a five-year-old girl and a three yearboy. She is trained as a biologist and presently an university researcher/professor, but also a volunteer at the local environmental movement.

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CALIFORNIA, USA: I’m Nobody!

CALIFORNIA, USA: I’m Nobody!

Several years ago, when I was in college, my whole vision of my future was about making a career.

I wanted to be independent and free. I wanted to be free from my, at some point, pathological father and cold as a stone mother.

I wanted to achieve something on my own and be proud about it.

I went to London for a summer break and worked as a waitress 15 hours a day, barely knowing English. I went to Germany and worked installing hardwood floor. (I know!!!)

Very close to the last year at University, I already knew I was not going to use my degree, as it is useless. Mass Media Education. Go figure!

Anyway, I became involved in two radio stations. (more…)

Ewa Samples

Ewa was born, and raised in Poland. She graduated University with a master's degree in Mass-Media Education. This daring mom hitchhiked from Berlin, Germany through Switzerland and France to Barcelona, Spain and back again! She left Poland to become an Au Pair in California and looked after twins of gay parents for almost 2 years. There, she met her future husband through Couch Surfing, an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals. Today she enjoys her life one picture at a time. She runs a photography business in sunny California and document her daughters life one picture at a time. You can find this artistic mom on her blog, Ewa Samples Photography, on Twitter @EwaSamples or on Facebook!

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INDIA: My Decision: SAHM vs. Working-Mom

Where I live in India, you hear a lot of criticism or praise about whether you are a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) or a working-mom (WM) or even if you convert from one to the other.

It has been almost ten months since I became a SAHM, but I still receive judgments about my decision. Just check out these conversations…

Conversation # 1

Me: Wait a minute, why should you say sorry because I left my job? I am actually enjoying it…

Person X: No, No, I am still sorry that it had to happen this way…

Me: What? You insist that I should receive your apologies? Fine. Thank you. Oh well, it’s not like anyone died or anything.

Conversation # 2

Person Y: You lost it? I know, hard times… Economic recession, right?!

Me: I DID NOT LOSE my job. I just quit because that’s what I wanted and that’s what I chose to do. (more…)

Purnima Ramakrishnan

Purnima Ramakrishnan is an UNCA award winning journalist and the recipient of the fellowship in Journalism by International Reporting Project, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her International reports from Brazil are found here . She is also the recipient of the BlogHer '13 International Activist Scholarship Award . She is a Senior Editor at World Moms Blog who writes passionately about social and other causes in India. Her parental journey is documented both here at World Moms Blog and also at her personal Blog, The Alchemist's Blog. She can be reached through this page . She also contributes to Huffington Post . Purnima was once a tech-savvy gal who lived in the corporate world of sleek vehicles and their electronics. She has a Master's degree in Electronics Engineering, but after working for 6 years as a Design Engineer, she decided to quit it all to become a Stay-At-Home-Mom to be with her son!   This smart mom was born and raised in India, and she has moved to live in coastal India with her husband, who is a physician, and her son who is in primary grade school.   She is a practitioner and trainer of Heartfulness Meditation.

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ISRAEL: Interview With Susie Newday (Newdaynewlesson)

ISRAEL: Interview With Susie Newday (Newdaynewlesson)

Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?

I was born in New york and lived there until the age of 21 when I made Aliyah (emigrated to Israel) with my husband and 1 1/2 kids.

What language(s) do you speak?

My mother tongue is obviously English. I read, write and speak fluent Hebrew but with a dreadful American accent. (I have not mastered the talent of a rolling R.) My Hebrew typing is one step above slowly painful.
I also understand a bit of Yiddish and an even smaller amount of Hungarian. (Courtesy of parents and grandparents trying to talk about me in a language I didn’t understand.) (more…)

Susie Newday (Israel)

Susie Newday is a happily-married American-born Israeli mother of five. She is an oncology nurse, blogger and avid amateur photographer. Most importantly, Susie is a happily married mother of five amazing kids from age 8-24 and soon to be a mother in law. (Which also makes her a chef, maid, tutor, chauffeur, launderer...) Susie's blog, New Day, New Lesson, is her attempt to help others and herself view the lessons life hands all of us in a positive light. She will also be the first to admit that blogging is great free therapy as well. Susie's hope for the world? Increasing kindness, tolerance and love. You can also follow her Facebook page New Day, New Lesson where she posts her unique photos with quotes as well as gift ideas.

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