How Stay-at-Home Moms Can Re-Enter the Workforce

Your child’s first few years on this earth may have more impact in forming their personality than any other time of their life. It’s not unnatural to want to spend that time with your child, rather than have someone else raise your child while you work. In some cases, staying at home with your very young children can even be economically wiser due to the high cost of childcare services – especially in high population areas.

You may find yourself with a little too much free time once your kids have grown up enough to not need you all the time. Moms who find themselves in this situation usually consider going back to work but can be clueless on where to start.

Here are some tips and ideas to help get you back into the workforce.

Training to Become a Medical Assistant

If you’ve always wanted to get a job in the healthcare field but you weren’t sure where to start, consider becoming a medical assistant. A medical assistant's role is to complement the care of a physician and to perform administrative tasks. This job requires a good eye for detail, as you may be responsible for documenting patient conditions or lab work.

Training programs to get you well-suited for a new career can be completed in as little as nine months to a year. From there, you can expand your education to continue to build your credentials to earn promotions and higher salaries. If you’re on the west coast, look into a Las Vegas medical assistant school; the city is home to some of the region’s best institutions.

Updating Your Skills and Resume

A traditional resume may not be your best bet, due to the large gap in employment. Consider a style that highlights any major professional accomplishments you had in the past, along with any part-time or volunteer work performed while not officially employed. Consider the roles you have performed and be sure to document any job-relevant experience you may have gained.

Going back to school for a certificate or degree is another option to help make you a more attractive candidate for a future employer. Take your time and find something that you really want to do; your passion for the subject will be the motivation you need to succeed.

Be Flexible

You may not be able to get that dream job right out of the gate; remaining diligent is important for jump-starting a new career. Don’t be afraid to look for part-time jobs that work around your schedule to bridge the gap. Use this time to sharpen your skills and ease you back into working life.

Take the opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues and business associates to get your name back in peoples’ ears. Getting the word out that you’re back from your hiatus could possibly lead to a job. Networking is a huge facet of the job search process: neglect it at your own peril.

Getting back the courage to start a new career after being away from the workforce can be a challenge. Spend some time thinking about what you want to do, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Find something that makes you happy and works around your life as a mother.

Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.

Finding Help for an Addiction

Addiction can come in many forms and it does not discriminate on who it affects.  Chances are high that you personally know someone who is facing some form of addiction.  It can be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or even yourself.  Finding the right resources is crucial to making that first step towards getting help.  While friends and family can be a very strong system of support, it is also wise to reach out to get help from professionals who are trained to deal with addiction.

Where to Look for Help:

Hotlines

There are several hotline numbers that have trained professionals ready and waiting to take your call.

Below are a list of some of these helpful numbers:

SAMHSA's National Helpline:  1-800-662-HELP (4357)

1-800-COCAINE  (Cocaine Hotline)

1-800-9-HEROIN  (Heroin Hotline)

1-800-356-9996  (Al Anon and Alateen Line)

1-800-273-TALK  (National Suicide Prevention Line)

 Referral Services

Finding access to local help is important with addiction.  There are several different referral services aimed to help you locate professional help in your area.

Alcoholics Anonymous:  Visit their website, input your zip code, and a list of local resources will populate.

Addiction Treatment by State:

Addiction Treatment in Washington - Recovery Village is a nationally recognized quality resource for addiction treatment in the state of Washington.  They are available 24 hours a day,  7 days a week.  Reaching out to them for help is always met with confidentiality.

SAMHSA - You can either call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1800-662-HELP, or you can visit their website here to locate resources in your area.  SAMHSA is also a great resource for information on state insurance and sliding fee scale programs.

Don't Stop There

Continue to find local support systems through friends, family, local support groups, your church, etc.  Another great resource is your health care provider.  Your doctor can also help refer you to local resources that can help, such as with a drug and alcohol counselor that can help you work through your addiction issues in a safe and confidential environment.  The most important step is the first step in asking for help.

 

How to Teach Your Children Good Money Habits

As parents, we want the best for our children. We want them to have a good education, a stable job, a happy family of their own, and a prosperous future. That’s why it’s important to guide our kids to the right path. This includes teaching our children about good financial habits at an early age.

We are our kids’ first teachers. It’s our duty to impart wisdom on how to responsibly spend and save money. To help your children establish a sound financial base, consider these practical suggestions from Alpha Car Finance.

Open a savings account.

As soon as they are old enough, open a savings account for your child. Start with a modest amount, around $100 and build up from there. Get your child a piggy bank. Once your kid has filled that up, bring the piggy bank and deposit the amount in your child’s bank account. This will encourage them to save more and build up their bank account.

Be honest with them.

Children are surprisingly perceptive. Even at a young age, they can grasp the general concept of money. Tell them the truth about how things can cost money. Try to explain to them on their level how leaving the lights on and leaving the faucet open can increase your utility costs. This will open their minds to conservation and become more proactive in helping their parents save.

Set a good example.

Children watch their parents and imitate their habits. So, it’s crucial to be a good role model. It’s easier for kids to follow your advice when they see that you practice what you preach. Show them that you are not easily swayed by a sale and you do not buy things out of impulse.

Teach them how to budget.

 

As they grow older, your children will receive pocket money from you. This is a good opportunity for you to teach them how to budget their weekly money and stick to it. You can also introduce new and creative ideas, like setting a goal. This will help motivate them to save up for something they want to buy, like a new toy.

Teach them patience.

We live in a world where instant gratification is encouraged. Every time a new fancy gadget comes out, we want to be the first ones to have it. To dissuade this type of behavior, teach your kids the importance of having patience. So, even if your children can’t stop obsessing about a new toy, they will not adopt an “I want it now” kind of attitude.

Teach them the value of hard work.

Sometimes, we may think that it’s easier to just give whatever our kids want, just to stop them from throwing a tantrum. If you do this, it will only give them a false sense of entitlement. So, teach your children the virtue of working hard for something they want.

You can start by giving them simple chores, like cleaning up their toys and clothes or making their beds. This will help them understand that any reward they receive can be gained through hard work and instil to them a strong sense of responsibility.

Teach them to get into business.

As your kids grow older, you can encourage them to get into business. It doesn’t have to be complex. They can start with simple things like having a lemonade stand or by selling their old toys.

This is a great way for them appreciate how a business operates and how customer service works. Who knows? Your child could be the next Warren Buffet because you nurtured their entrepreneurial spirit at a young age.

Teaching our children to have good money habits will help them become responsible in the future. What's more, building a solid financial foundation is one of the best things we can do as parents. Be an excellent example to your children, and they will be inspired to follow in your footsteps.

Have children of your own? What lessons do you teach them? How do you encourage them to develop good money habits? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.

Vacation Inspiration For When It Is Just You Two

Sometimes vacations with a family can be overtaken by priorities to do with your children, and there is nothing wrong with that. After all, a vacation away with the family is a chance to really send some quality time together, so if you cater your vacation to ensure that you have minimal fuss and upset when it comes to your kids then I don’t blame you. But at some point you might get the opportunity to go away as just a couple. It may be on a rare time that grandparents will take the children away, or just when they are all grown and doing their own things. So I thought it would be a good time to share with you some vacation inspiration for just you as a couple. The detentions that you want to soak in the atmosphere, rekindle the romance or experience a different culture. Get these on your bucket list, pronto!

Hawaii

If you want a vacation with a difference then why not head over to the islands of Hawaii. Known for their rugged landscape and amazing beaches these islands are the perfect escape for you both as a couple. Secluded and quiet spots, fun and atmospheric bars where the drinks will flow and amazing accommodation options that could ooze luxury or give you the peace and tranquility a family resort won’t offer. There are six main islands and Oahu is the most common destination for vacation goers, Honolulu is the really popular with the famous Waikiki beach and for the history buffs the Pearl Harbor world war two memorials.

Costa Rica

If you want vacation like no other than try a totally different destination like Costa Rica. Situated in central America, this island has Pacific and Caribbean coastlines giving you all of the perfect ingredients to a great vacation. Start your journey at the Courtyard San Jose Airport Alajuela giving you the perfect spot to then enjoy the capital of San Jose. Offering the Pre-Columbian Gold museum as a must-see attraction. Again it offers rugged landscapes and protect rain forest regions giving this island a level of beauty that you might not find anywhere else. 

Barbados

Who doesn’t love a bit of celebrity watching, and if you do then Barbados may be the locations to do it. Of course, you can just choose to go there for the stunning beaches and beautiful landscapes. White sandy beaches and glorious blue seas stretch on for what feels like miles. Accommodation wise, you have the exclusive Sandy Lane resort which is popular among some of the rich and famous, but there are also other budget friendly options that are very beautiful and quaint. 

Europe

Finally, if you want the perfect vacations for a couple the city breaks could be right up your street and Europe has some of the best cities on offer. The romance that Paris can offer, the yummy cuisine only the best cities in Italy can give you like Rome or Florence, and even taking in the sights and sounds of the Spanish city of Barcelona. So much to see and probably not enough vacation time to do it in.

I hope this has given you some inspiration for the time you may have to take vacations as a couple.

Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.