Safety Communication Health Education Future
A place for families to explore what it means to be responsible

Being a parent, it is not often that someone takes the time to recognize what you do and put a spotlight on it.  I am always looking to others for inspiration and so are our children.  In order to succeed in life, we need to model what has worked for others, right?  

Today, we are fortunate to have Beth Feldman of Role Mommy who so graciously shares some inspiring food for thought about the role model in many of us.  Welcome and thank you, Beth!

Role models are something that I stress often at Responsible Family Company, so when I came across your website, I was thrilled!  Can you tell us a little about how you got started with RoleMommy.com and your inspiration behind it?
Role Mommy started after a chicken salad with dressing on the side lunch between myself and Yvette Corporon.  At the time, I was publicist for CBS and Yvette was a producer at Extra.  We had worked together on numerous entertainment projects and at the end of the television season, we finally had time to sit down and talk about our own dreams and aspirations. At that lunch we both talked about how we wanted to write a book about pursuing your passion while raising a family and doing it in a light hearted way. 

What we wanted to show other moms is that they're not alone in what they're going through and that they are not only role models to their children but to each other.  And so, at that fateful lunch, Role Mommy was born.  Our events celebrate women at the top of their fields balancing work and family and our mission is simple:  Helping your children realize their hopes and dreams, doesn't mean you have to give up on your own.  While Yvette has decided to remain at Extra and pursue her passion for writing, I decided to leave corporate America and run Role Mommy and a burgeoning PR business full time. 

Since 2006, the Role Mommy website has become a prime destination where moms can be inspired, entertained and informed.  Additionally our initially self-published book, Peeing in Peace:  Tales & Tips for Type A Moms, was purchased by Sourcebooks and re-released with bonus material in April 2008.

Congratulations on the book being picked up by Sourcebooks!  So, tell us, what exactly are the common qualities of role models?
Role Models are passionate individuals who are dreamers.  They do not believe in rejection or the word no and no matter how difficult things may get, they never give up.  A role model also knows their limits and inspires others to be the best they can be.

Are there any tips you can give to parents who are looking to be a role model for their kids?
As busy as you may be in your life, take the time to have fun with your children.  They are only young once and as much as it's great to see a parent who is successful at what they do, it's also great to see a mom play Guitar Hero with their kids; or be the team baseball coach or ice skate alongside their daughter while she's taking a figure skating lesson.  Kids are inspired to pursue their dreams by their parents so if you're doing what you love, you will be the best kind of role model they'll ever know.

What are the benefits of having a role model?
It's always wonderful to have someone in your life who you can learn from.  A role model is not perfect - they have made mistakes, moved past them and still managed to find their way and succeed.  To have a person in your life who can be that mentor or role model is invaluable to helping you accomplish your own goals.


So, of course the next logical question is... Who is your Role Mommy?
I've got a few Role Mommies in my life.  My mom Lenore and my two grandmothers who were both named Dora.  From the time I was a young chlid, my mom has always worked.  And her mom worked as a bookkeeper and then came home to cook a five course meal for her family.  But no matter how busy my mom or my grandma were, they always had time for me and they taught me some of the most valuable lessons in my life. 

My mom has always been there for me, encouraging me to pursue my dreams while my grandma taught me how to blow bubbles, make matzoh balls, crack jokes and even ride a three wheeler all over Florida.  To this day, I still have a blanket that my grandmother crocheted back when we had a house in the poconos and I curl up with it every night.  My dad's mom gave me the gift sarcasm - she could fill a book with her incredible zingers.

Who is the most common Role Mommy that you hear about on your site?
A lot of the Role Mommies who are featured on our site are mompreneurs who took a chance and left a full time job to reinvent their lives.  It takes a lot of guts to give up something that is incredibly safe for the unknown.  But in order to truly be successful you have to take chances.  And at Role Mommy, we celebrate the risk taskers, the dreamers and the doers because if our children see their parents achieving their dreams, there's no telling what they'll be able to accomplish down the road.

If you would like to read more about Role Mommy , visit their fabulous site and buy their revised book Peeing in Peace!  Enjoy! 

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• She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
• Mostly to clean the house.
• To help us out of there when we were getting born.

• He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
• Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
• God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

• God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
• They had to get their start from men's bones.  Then they mostly use string, I think.

• We're related.
• God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

• My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
• I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
• They say she used to be nice.

• His last name.
• She had to know his background. Like is he acrook? Does he get drunk on beer?
• Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

• My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
• She got too old to do anything else with him.
• My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

• Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
• Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
• I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

• Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
• Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
• Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's
• Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

• Mothers don't do spare time.
• To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

• On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
• Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

• She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
• I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
• I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

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One of the things we as parents don't always like to think about is what would happen to our kids if we weren't around anymore.  Well Alexis Martin Neely,a lawyer and mother of two, has developed the Kids Protection Plan for just this reason.

All parents will want to spend a few moments checking this site out.  It makes the whole process easy, thorough and just what you need!  Making sure your children have guardians, insurance and trusts that will cushion the blow if, god forbid, something ever did happen to you.  This is a step parents should not miss!

Stay tuned for Alexis Neey's new book Wear Clean Underwear , which is due out in May!

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Every year, for one day we celebrate the planet on which we live.  Starting in the 1970s, April 22 has been celebrated as Earth Day .  How will you show the world that you appreciate your planet? 

In our busy lives, it is easy to push aside this day as another ridiculous holiday, but without the earth we wouldn't be here!  Making some simple changes can make a huge impact on the environment.  This is an important lesson to teach children not just for their own understanding, but for the future of our world as we know it.

Start by implementing the Recycle-Reuse-Repurpose model into your daily life along with these 5 steps to take positive action:

1. Change incandescent light bulbs in your home to florescent or other energy efficient ones.  This will help save the earth while saving you money!
2. Drink filtered tap water rather than bottled water.  The plastic from bottled water clogs up land fills and has been linked to certain forms of cancer when exposed to heat!
3. Turn your thermostat down to 65 degrees in the cool months and 75 degrees in the warm months.  Better yet, when it is cold in the house, put on a sweater and some socks (if it isn't below zero outside)! 
4. Showers should never exceed 5 minutes.  Set a timer for adults as well as children.
5. Plant a tree !  Planting trees in the earth takes dedication and effort.  By making a choice to plant a tree, you are giving back to the earth and showing those around you that you care.  Be a role model to your family and neighbors and plant a tree today!

One more thing that can make a big difference: There are approximately 27.4 billion disposable diapers entered into landfills every year.  This number can be reduced dramatically because the fact is... kids don't need to be in diapers after age 3, especially since it is so toxic to the environment.  Forget about the diapers to crawl, swim, sleep and potty train and witness the ear to ear grin when you introduce your child some big kid underwear!  If you are worried about permanently damaging your child by potty training too early, think about this: in the 1950s 80% of children were potty trained by age 2. 

Okay, so not all kids love big kid underwear, but what lasts longer the earth or dipaer rash?

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Every house has danger zones, but do you know where your household's hazards are?  When children live in your home, it is your responsibility to make sure that these hazards are minimized, otherwise your child could end up like the hundreds of thousands of children who die every year from preventable injuries. 

Although we are listing many of the common dangers in this article, there may be many more in your home or outside.  Always be on the lookout for possible injury sites and take the necessary steps to correct them before an emergency strikes.  When you or your child are in a friend's home, make sure you keep an eye out for danger zones as well.  See our childproofing article for ways to address common household hazards. 

Never feel uncomfortable telling someone that an area of their home is dangerous.  If a child or adult hurts themselves in your home, you are responsible both legally and emotionally for their injuries.  So, telling someone that they have an area of concern could be saving both parties from a lot of trouble!  If you really don't want to say anything, just print this article out and leave it in their mailbox with the name of the hazard at the bottom of the list!

The following is a list of common household dangers.  It should be used as a cheecklist for your home and in any homes you visit to reduce the chances of a medical emergency.

• electrical outlets
• hair dryers
• dangling electrical or window cords
• exposed electrical wires
• sharp corners
• glass edges
• small objects such as coins, marbles, rubber balls, paper clips, thumb tacks
• cleaning supplies
• medications
• cosmetics (make-up, lotions, shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste)
• hot beverages
• pot handles on the stove that are not pushed back and out of reach
• knives or scissors
• carpet that is not flush with the ground or that is not tacked down
• area rugs that are folded or do not have slip pads
• stairways without guards
• toilets or buckets with water
• cars
• chemicals andgardening supplies
• hazard you found
• hazard you found
• hazard you found

Along with childproofing, supervision and preparation you will be doing your part to responsibly care for your child by looking for hazards.  It is recommended that all caregivers of children take annual courses in CPR and First Aid.  Another tool for educating yourself about common emergencies is our DVD Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers.  Order one today and watch it with all caregivers regularly.  For your convenience, we have a Post Video Discussion Guide for parents and caregivers to review together aftewards.  

Keeping children safe is a full time job and requires  constant attention.  By reading our site and learning about safety, you are doing exactly what all caregivers should be doing.  Keep up the good work!

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