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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Retirement Planning for the Stay-At-Home
Mom
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Guest Article - Frequently Asked Questions About Reading
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Ahh... This pregnancy is finally getting to the reasonably comfortable stage. Less nausea, everything seems to have settled so that I can sit normally... of course, in a few months I'll be big enough to be less comfortable again. At least it won't be summer. It's been so hot here lately. Now I just need a little more energy....
Have you given any thought to Halloween yet? We're thinking of having Ariel dress as either a butterfly or a clown this year. She's enthusiastic about both ideas. We always make her costumes, so we have to plan well in advance. She might even get to go trick or treating this year. A couple of the neighbor kids have asked if she can come, and unless she's just too scared, I'll take her.
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When you first plan on staying home with your children, probably the first thing you do is take a look and see if you can afford it. You cut back on cable TV, buy older cars, lose retirement benefits…
Whoops! Most moms don't seem to be thinking about what being a stay-at-home mom does for her retirement package. The years spent not working have a huge impact, however, when you decide to retire, so you need to plan now.
Let's start by looking at what you're losing for your retirement. No 401(k) with your employer contributing towards it. No pension, although those are getting scarce in most jobs anyhow. Less money available to put towards retirement. You aren't putting money into Social Security, so your benefits will be lower.
Ouch. Being a stay-at-home mom means you lose a lot for your retirement. Socially, the stay-at-home mom, as you may already know, is not as valued by most or by our government as the working mother. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prepare for your own retirement. It means more sacrifices, as you'll have to put more money aside, but better to provide your own retirement than be a burden.
You will want to consider having your spouse contribute towards a Spousal IRA. You may want to talk to a professional to determine the best type of IRA. According to the IRS website, up to $3000 may be contributed to a spousal IRA in a given year, assuming you are married and filing a joint return. See http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p590.pdf for more information on IRAs.
Of course, it's hard for most families to come up with $3000 a year to be put towards retirement. Saving while working is relatively easy; it can come out of the paycheck before you ever see it, so it doesn't hurt much. You need to figure out a monthly dollar amount you can contribute, so that it goes throughout the year. Don't hurt your family doing this, of course, but if you can find a way to get a little money put aside so you can have a decent retirement, do so.
Those who want only to be stay-at-home moms may resist the notion of finding a job, whether it be part time or working at home, but it is another option to keep money going towards your retirement. It assures you that some money is going toward Social Security, and gives you a little extra money to put towards your retirement. Once the kids are in school, a highly flexible job can keep your skills sharp, too.
For others, a home business is an option. You don't have to go the direct sales route, although it is certainly a popular way to start a home business with less risk. You can start a website on something you love, sell crafts you've made… perhaps something you love to do could be a small home business for you.
You are the only one who can decide which sacrifices you can make to ensure
that you have a financially secure retirement. Take the time now to think
about your future.
Stephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a resource that knows that there's more to staying home with your family than just business. For more stay at home tips, visit the site at http://www.homewiththekids.com/ and subscribe to the free newsletter.
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Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you feel he or she should be starting to read, but they have no interest in books whatsoever? I had the same problem with my son. Gosh, he would rather chew on 'The Big Book of Nursery Rhymes' than read a word from it! Here's a short list of questions which I find very relevant if you're concerned about your kids' reading habits.
Question: There are some scary children stories like "Hansel
and Gretel" out there. Will they disturb my child?
Answer: The important thing here is the manner in which the story is
told. If you're reading to your child in words, then there should be no problem.
If however, you're watching a movie version of the story, then perhaps there
is more impact on the child. However, this is not to say you cannot allow
your children to watch, say, "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs".
Just make sure you're there to explain if he or she has any questions - then
they'll be fine. As a side note, do remember that scary stories are also required
for a child's psychological development - so don't shield them from such material
totally.
Question: I've problems finding out which books are best for my child.
Please help!
Answer: There are some very good childrens' books out there. Some of
my favorite classic childrens' tales which I freely read to my kid include
Winnie the Pooh stories, Aesop's Fables and nursery rhymes of any sort. If
you're interested, check out the list below for more book references:
* Bernice E. Cullinan, Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read. Scholastic,
1992.
* Kate Hall McMullan, How to Choose Good Books for Kids. Addison-Wesley, 1984.
* Jane A. Williams, How to Stock a Home Library Inexpensively. Bluestocking
Press, 1995.
Question: How can I motivate my child to read?
Answer: This has got to be THE most common question parents ask. Well,
the answer is simple. Have FUN reading to your child and he or she will be
motivated to read! Vary the types of books you get for them. Some children
prefer fairy tales, others prefer books about animals, trucks, or cartoons.
Expose them to different genres of literature. If you find one area they're
really interested you can zoom in on it and focus on those type of books.
You can also try visiting your local bookstore and let your child choose a
book on his or her own. Oh, here's another tip - make your reading dramatic.
Sure, it's a bit weird initially, but it does wonders for motivating and stimulating
your child. Use funny voices and dramatic gestures! Vary your volume level,
act like a clown!
Gary Hendricks is the editor of Baby-Product-Guide.com, a hobby site providing tips and tricks on selecting and buying the best baby products for your child.
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