Who Am I and Where Do I Fit In?

What? You don’t remember ever asking yourself this question? Trust me, if you’re over the age of five, you have - and the opportunity will present itself again, many times over.

On the first day of preschool or Kindergarten, you scanned your surroundings; the room full of children, the teacher and more friggin' toys than you had ever seen in one place. You wondered, Who am I and where do I fit in? In time you learned, you acclimated and found the part of you that connected with the experience.

Fast forward eight to ten years: adolescence. Changes abound – physical changes, mood shifts and of course, the opposite sex (hmm…why didn’t I notice this before, you asked yourself?) This time, you don’t quite acclimate, but you move through it and on to more change.

One day you wake up and discover you’re no longer a child. You’re a man, a woman. You marry or choose to remain single, you work, have children – or not, and your world opens to a whole new set of changes. Life is just that – beginnings and endings, births and deaths, starts and stops – change. It’s not change itself that’s most significant. How we respond to that change defines our quality of life.

If you're a working parent trying to find your way back home, or if you're a stay-at-home parent who needs an income, expect change that will rock your world. It may not be easy, but your commitment will see you through. Just take it a step at a time. It'll all be worth it.

Are you contemplating a change of lifestyle? Would you like support? Please email me privately at successmadesimple.jc@gmail.com and I'll sign you up for Two Months FREE Membership to my monthly Mama Come Home! teleclasses.

Judith Cassis,C.Ht. is a Personal Development Consultant with 26 years experience. Known as "The Bounce-Back Coach", she works with people who are "bouncing back" from failure, loss or tragedy. Judith is co-owner of a small newspaper,Tidbits of Santa Clarita Valley, www.tidbitsscv.com a family business she and her husband, Lee Cadena run with their sons. Through a monthly teleseries, Mama Come Home, Judith supports mothers in staying home or returning home to raise their children.

Come On, We're Sisters!

by Judith Cassis

Why do we women divide and take sides over our issues? Breast vs bottle, home birth vs Epidural, and now the career mom vs the work at home variety - why do we think less of the woman who chooses another road, and worse yet, why does she think less of herself? We may not agree, but must we condemn one another for our choices?

There seems to be a lot of mud slinging going on these days between stay-at-home-moms and working moms. This saddens me! We're sisters. Hasn't the world doled out enough feminine oppression? Must we turn on each other? Because if we do, we're really turning on ourselves. All that are as a gender was wrought by woman-to-woman support. We held each other up, stuck it out and stuck together, and the cost would be far too great for us to turn away from each other now.

For one reason or another, the choice to stay at home or work from home may not be available to everyone. Sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control. And sometimes it's just not what they want. Who am I to judge?

Let's not ask each other to feel guilty about our choices. Instead, let's invite each other to examine our lives and recognize there are options. We're not victims and we're not stuck. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE to shift gears.

Are you contemplating a change of lifestyle? Would you like support? Please email me privately at successmadesimple.jc@gmail.com and I'll sign you up for Two Months FREE Membership to my monthly Mama Come Home! teleclasses.

udith Cassis,C.Ht. is a Personal Development Consultant with 26 years experience. Known as "The Bounce-Back Coach", she works with people who are "bouncing back" from failure, loss or tragedy. Judith is co-owner of a small newspaper,Tidbits of Santa Clarita Valley, www.tidbitsscv.com a family business she and her husband, Lee Cadena run with their sons. Through a monthly teleseries, Mama Come Home, Judith supports mothers in staying home or returning home to raise their children.

How to Tighten Your Wallet and Enjoy Your New Lifestyle

So, you've decided to become a full time stay-at-home parent. Re-evaluating your budget is one of the hardest first steps to letting go of that second income because it means you are going to have to let some things go. First, realize that just because you have to cut down on some indulgences does not mean you are living in poverty. You will survive. Start by taking a look at your credit card statements, your cell phone bills and your other spending habits. This will give you some clues where to cut first. Lower your cell phone plan minutes, brew your own coffee, use the library to borrow books and videos. Consider how often you use your gym membership and if your physical activity can be replaced by taking the kids for a walk or joining a weekly stroller strides group. Start a 'swap' group in your community and rotate things like videos, toys and books. Instead of meeting friends out for drinks, which now includes the price of a babysitter, invite them over for game night. Let go of your season tickets and watch the games on TV for free, or check your local listings for community events such as free concerts in the park. Most likely, you will begin to enjoy the creative activities that you are able to come up with as a family. On the rare occasion that you are able to hire a sitter and get out with your grown-up friends, it will mean more to you than it ever did before.

Self-employed Parent Enthusiast Ally Loprete is the Founder of OurMilkMoney.com, a nationwide online business directory of self-employed parents, and the host of This Little Parent Stayed Home, a live weekly radio show which is a part of the Her Insight Group on Toginet.com. Ally is on a mission to help others deal with the sometimes overwhelming prospect of leaving a full time job to start a new business, while running a full time household and raising kids. She is resolute about creating a haven in which parents across the nation will continue to thrive and obtain the support they need in their personal journeys.

Is a direct sales business your answer to working from home?

Let’s say that you just heard about a great product offered by independent sales representatives from a direct sales organization. You think the opportunity sounds appealing but you have not been able to decide “yes” or “no” on whether to get started. It is very normal for people to wonder whether they can be successful at owning their own business, particularly if they did not grow up in an entrepreneurial environment. However, if you feel hesitant or pressured to get going, rather than jump right in, it may be a good idea to check out the business a little more.

Here are a few suggested areas for you to examine:

How marketable is the product? Is it something that people will need or want? Is the price fair and less than similar products available through stores and online? Is there something special or unique about the product that makes it different from the competition?

What are the start up costs? Does the business require a large investment? Is there something of value that you receive for the price?

Do you understand how you make money? Is there a fair commission on products sold? Are there requirements that you must meet in order earn commissions? How do the commissions work on team members? Is the marketing plan confusing or simple to understand?

If you have questions before you even begin, chances are they will linger if you decide to move forward with the business. Allow yourself the time to investigate the organization, make sure you have eliminated any doubts about the opportunity on the front end and, most importantly, remember that there is no such thing as a “get rich quick” business. If it sounds too good to be true, it just might not be true!

Mona Colwell is a work at home mom with 15 years of direct sales experience. In addition to raising her three children, Mona has created a company for her almost famous husband, Emerson, and his children’s books and recently transitioned to a brand new direct sales organization, Ava Anderson Non-Toxic.

www.tinkinkpublishing.com
www.avaandersonnontoxic.com/mona

Ally's "Hey, I LOVE this song" CD

These are the songs that make me want to get up and get going!! Never underestimate the power that music can have on your soul. Your kids will love these songs, too. They will see their mommy happy and enjoying her day. If you have young children, take advantage of this age! There will come a time when dancing around might make your kids gag. But if they are not yet tweens, they'll want to dance and sing right a long with you.  Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite tunes. I'd love to know what you think I missed!

Freedom -George Michael
Free - Phish
You Don't Know Me - Ben Folds
Landed - Ben Folds
Off the Wall - Michael Jackson
King of Spain - Moxy Fruvous
"Superstar" Andrew Llyod Webber sound track for "Jesus Christ, Superstar"
Phantom Limb - The Shins
No Rain- Blind Melon
Let Go- Frou Frou
Jive Talking - Bee Gees
I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
Southern Cross - Crosby Stills and Nash
So Much to Say - Dave Mathews
Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.
America - Simon and Garfunkle
I Get Around - Beach Boys
All you Want - Dido
Someone Saved my Life Tonight - Elton John
Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees
The Love You Save - Michael Jackson
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Fall Down - Toad the Wet Sprocket
L-O-V-E - Nat Cole
I Don't Want to Know - Fleetwood Mac
In My Life- The Beatles
Falling Slowly - From the film "Once"
Let's Go Crazy - Prince and the Revolution
Abba - Angel Eyes
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
I'd Like That - XTC
Aquarious - "Hair" Soundtrack
 


Ally Loprete is a stay-at-home mother of 2 boys, a former television, theatre and film actress, singer, performer, storyteller, and teacher. An advocate of parents, Ally founded OurMilkMoney.com, an online business directory of self-employed parents and an organization dedicated to helping parents find financial opportunities and support. She is also the host of  This Little Parent Stayed Home weekly radio show available on Toginet.com, and the playwright & performer for her one-woman show about the journey of dealing with unexpected drama in life, Chasing Ally.

This Wasn't the Path I Started Out On; It's Better.

By Ally Loprete

Thirteen years ago, I came to Los Angeles with a Bachelor's in Theatre and Film degree, stars in my eyes and a certainty that I was exactly what Hollywood was looking for. I had ten 2 minute monolgues, a mixture of classic, contemporary, comedic and dramatic,  ready to go at any given time, and 12 new dialects perfected. I had 4 songs prepared for all of my musical theatre auditions, 16 bars each and the sheet music to hand to any accompanist, 2 sets of character shoes, and an attitude that wouldn't quit. I knew I was meant for something great.
I worked hard, took classes, auditioned for as many things as I could and got rejected and rejected and rejected. I kept going, only to get rejected some more. 
I met and fell in love with other artists, some struggling like me, others on their way to the top. I booked some work on a soap opera, a pilot that was made but never seen, did some theatre, some student films, and a showcase or two.
I temped during the day, rehearsed for plays at night, hung out with the cast after rehearsals and crawled into bed by 1am each night. I was hired and fired from more day jobs than I could count, sent out headshots and postcards every week, and searched for inexpensive ways to see theatre on the weekends.
Looking back, those times were...romantic. I loved and hated that time. There was so much uncertainty. I didn't work as much as many of my friends did, and I remember thinking- well, now, I can't be THAT BAD.
Now that I am a stay-at-home mom, concerned about wellness checks, potty training and creative ways to cook vegetables, the life of an actor that I vaguely remember seems to have belonged to someone else. Somewhere along the way I lost the desire to perform and found a passion for giving as much of myself as I can to my children.
I did my first radio broadcast last week, This Little Parent Stayed Home, but afterwards I sat there and critiqued my own "work" the way I had done after one of my shows, or one of my auditions. Did I speak in my lower register, and use my full range? Did I push too hard or fail to miss my beats? Did my show have a beginning, middle and end, with a dramatic arc 2/3 in?
Was I funny? Interesting? Did I leave my audience wanting more?
Then the realization came that I am no longer a performer, or an actor. That life was left far behind, and thank goodness. The performance that I gave on Friday was no act. It was the realist thing I've ever done, and no theatre critique will be able to tear it apart. The truth is, I am glad that I had the chance to experience the life of a struggling actor, but I am even more grateful that it led me down a new path.
I am no longer on a mission to entertain. I am on a mission to inspire.
If just one mom or dad listening to my show felt like a good parent in that hour, or decided to go for that second child, I did my job. If one person was inspired to use the OMM directory to search for a product or service and give their hard earned dollars to a family, then I succeeded in what I set out to do.
When I think about that young girl 13 years ago who believed her special purpose in life was to be a television star on a situation comedy, and what that little girl didn't know, I can't help but smile. That young and naive girl never would have aspired for where she would ultimately land. But she also had no way of knowing the amount of happiness and joy that would fill her life, and the passion that she would embody to create a better world for families everywhere, ten times greater than the passion to see her name on her own dressing room door.
I am grateful for this new path, and the unexpected turns up ahead in my journey.

Ally Loprete is a stay-at-home mother of 2 boys, a former television, theatre and film actress, singer, performer, storyteller, and teacher. An advocate of parents, Ally founded OurMilkMoney.com, an online business directory of self-employed parents and an organization dedicated to helping parents find financial opportunities and support. She is also the host of  This Little Parent Stayed Home weekly radio show available on Toginet.com, and the playwright & performer for her one-woman show about the journey of dealing with unexpected drama in life, Chasing Ally.

Ally’s passion to help others transitioned from full time working parent to successful entrepreneur has grown from her own experiences. She is determined to help other’s deal with the sometimes overwhelming prospect of starting a new business while still running a household, and is resolute about creating a haven in which we can continue to thrive and support each other in our personal journeys. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Ally currently resides with her husband and her two little boys, Braden and Henry, in the beautiful suburbs of Stevenson Ranch, California, just north of Los Angeles.