Every parent does their best to give everything they can to their children: food, shelter, clothing, education and positive social experiences, to name a few areas. Due to the economic downturn, record unemployment levels and diminished career opportunities in many fields, countless parents across the country worry about where their next meal will come from.

What if you or your spouse/partner lost their job and were unemployed for an extended period of time? What if you became sick and unable to provide for your children? What if you could not afford health insurance for your family? These are some concerns that are keeping mothers and fathers awake at night. It’s a different generation than the one we grew up in. Many educated parents are fighting to survive.

Federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have been put into place to help out during critical times of need.

Members of Congress are working to reauthorize the Farm Bill, legislation that provides funding for the SNAP program and for the SNAP education program. Drastic cuts to SNAP are on the table for the Farm Bill, and nearly half of all SNAP participants are children. If Congress cuts funding for this poverty-relieving program, it will affect millions of children and families, leaving them even more vulnerable to hunger.

As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we cannot afford to let our children go hungry. Ensuring our children have enough to eat must be a priority for our nation. Support the Farm Bill and No Kid Hungry® by visiting http://nokidhungry.org/farmbill to send a message to Congress, share your story or make a pledge.

SNAP also provides important economic benefits to communities across the country. For every SNAP dollar spent, $1.79 is returned to the economy. As our economy slowly begins to recover, now is not the time to cut programs that help local businesses and families.

A family of 4 making less than $23,000 net income qualifies for SNAP.

Quick Hunger Facts:

• 1 in 5 kids in America doesn’t get enough to eat.
• Nearly 50% of SNAP participants are children.
• More than 46 million Americans – a majority of whom are seniors, children, or people with disabilities – rely on SNAP to feed their families.
• The average monthly SNAP benefit = $1.48 per meal

More than two-thirds of the funds in the most recent Farm Bill help feed these hungry kids through Federal Nutrition Programs.

My oldest daughter Kaitlyn turns four-years-old this month. I have a vivid memory of when she arrived and how I grappled with feedings and diaper changes every two hours. Also how I turned to coffee during the day to cope with sleep deprivation the first few months.

For the two years of Kaitlyn’s life, I wrote in a journal monthly–just a few paragraphs about what I was dealing with and how she was growing. When my second daughter Emma was born two years ago, I started a journal for her as well. I am still writing monthly in Emma’s journal, but it’s more about what we are doing as a family.

Last night I skimmed through Kaitlyn’s journal. It is amusing to look back on it and recall what transpired then–her first foods, first friendships at daycare, first steps at the park. We were fortunate the girls did not face any major health struggles.

When I find myself getting consumed with keeping clients happy, finding new work, finishing my book, collecting on past due invoices, etc., I put life in perspective and thank God for two healthy girls.

Kaitlyn the baby is gone. She asked me the other day if she could have sleepovers with her friends. I told her she was too young for that, but perhaps when she was older. She will often dress herself in the morning without my assistance.

My husband Jason and I wish Kaitlyn was not such a picky eater–we are working on getting her to eat more vegetables and Daddy’s recipes like chili and beef stew. Raisin toast with peanut butter and honey is the fallback dinner if she refuses to eat what I prepare.

I am also grateful she makes friends so easily and is outgoing. Next weekend we will celebrate her birthday. She requested a gym party with her closest friends. How could I say no?

Many parents today are experiencing unprecedented pressure–they fear losing their jobs, finding new clients, not laying off employees, etc.

Yes, company executives face more pressure today to produce sales and expand operations. It seems, however, many companies just don’t offer working parents enough flex time. Is it necessary to write your employee up if she is 15 minutes late? Maybe her twins were sick and had to be cared for. Do you have to keep your analyst working until 8pm on Halloween night when he could be trick or treating with his kids?

If you are a business executive, evaluate the working relationship you have with staff who are parents. If they haven’t had a vacation day in a year, why not offer them a day off to spend with their family?

Businesses would see increased productivity if they allowed working mothers and fathers more flexibility. There just doesn’t seem to be enough of it today. More full timers could work from home part of the week, which would ease their household responsibilities somewhat.

Over the past year, I have spoken to career moms across the country for my book. Many are frustrated and exhausted working a long day and them coming home to household tasks that need to be completed. Marriages are seeing the strain as a result of the lack of downtime, no vacation, etc.

Business executives should be more mindful of their employees’ needs–remember, they have a family to support. They should think about how staff schedules can be adjusted to accommodate parents’ home obligations.

As some of you (Facebook friends) know, I committed to write a book for working mothers. I have a few chapters left and am excited it’s close to completion. For the past five months, the book has been my hobby–I work on it after business hours at night and on the weekends.

A magazine editor asked me how this commitment affected my parenting, in time and outlook. I have had less “self-time” but am okay with that. I have no idea who is in the running on Dancing with the Stars or what is the new drama on The Real Housewives series.

Time goes by so fast. I try to make moments count with my daughters. After I pick them up from school, I take them to the park or library. I know this is precious time with them. When they are in kindergarten, I will miss these moments–when Kaitlyn was thrilled to see her best friend, when I was afraid of Emma’s fearlessness on the playground.

I will be proud when I can hold a finished copy of the book in my hands. This has been perhaps my biggest undertaking to date. Self-employment was a big leap as well–but that was over ten years ago.

I see the book as one account of what career Moms are facing today. Many Moms have been open with me about their challenges and struggles, and experts have offered timely solutions. Fortunately I have not had a shortage of sources.

It is my hope when my daughters read the book later in their lives, it will give them a clear sense of what it was like to live in this time. Working mothers are often faced with tough decisions, but we do what is best for our kids. We face challenges–unemployment or client losses, for example–and rise about them.

I wrote this article in 2006 but the advice is still relevant:

One of the best ways to become an expert in your field is to write a book. Adding the accomplishment of author to your resume will enhance your credibility and boost your fees. The benefit is immeasurable—colleagues will regard you as an industry leader.

A real estate sales expert I spoke to recently said he would never have been able to speak at a prestigious real estate expo if he had no product. Think of your book as a marketing expense. Instead of a brochure, you can use the book to market your services. The book will serve as the main advertisement of your business.

The cost of self publishing will be at least several thousand dollars for the book design, printing, and distribution. Don’t forget to add the cost of your time when you set a budget. A good resource is www.printindustry.com–you submit what you want and venders from around the country will bid on the project.

So…what’s stopping you from creating your own product?

If you have no writing credentials, don’t despair. You can hire people to help (more on this later). But the first step is to decide what you want to write about—what advice can you offer others in your industry? Write about what you know. For example, if you’re a chef, write about your favorite dishes and their health benefits.

Give yourself a writing deadline and stick with it. The task won’t seem as daunting if you break it into measurable chunks—for example: in 15 days, have 30 pages written, in 30 days, have 60 pages completed, etc. If you’re having trouble getting words on the screen, consider dictating your ideas into a recorder and getting them transcribed. Then hire an editor to spruce up the content.

Another option is to hire a ghostwriter to write the entire book. You can find a good writer or editor by looking at the classified advertising sections of writer magazines like Writer’s Digest. Check out Mediabistro.com’s freelance marketplace for talent. Or post help wanted ads on web sites that specialize in matching independent contractors with businesses in need of talent. Monster.com, elance.com and guru.com are worth looking into.

Writing fees vary widely, and you can negotiate on an hourly or project basis. According to Writers Market guidelines, a ghostwriter may charge anywhere from $15,000 (low) to $50,000+ (high) to write a book of about 240 pages.

Evaluate writers’ backgrounds and samples before choosing someone to work with. Strive to work with someone who has had nonfiction books published by traditional publishers and who is passionate about your industry.

“One great way of starting is to write a book, make it in electronic format and try to sell it to people through your newsletter, through your website,” says TJ Walker, president of Media Training Worldwide. “Create a website for it. There are a lot of things you can do, short of actually printing it.” You could offer a sample chapter in your newsletter to entice readers.

A popular option is to create the book in PDF form and then set up a shopping cart on your web site. When customers pay for your book via credit card, they will receive an automated response with instructions on downloading the PDF. There are no expenses if you sell it from your web site—each month, sales revenue will go directly into your checking account.

If you plan to self publish the book, you should be extremely detailed oriented or have someone on your staff whom you trust to be extremely detailed oriented, as there are many forms to fill out, says Walker. You’ll need an ISBN number from R.R. Bowker before printing the book.

Selling the finished product on amazon.com is a smart idea. You’ll have to apply to their Advantage Program online and submit a title for consideration. If your application is approved, you list the book in amazon’s catalog, provide descriptive content, and ship units to their warehouse for amazon.com to process.

Margie Fisher of Margie Fisher Public Relations decided to write her book before she gave birth to her daughter. She worked on it during non-business hours—a few pages at a time—in order to meet her deadline. Fisher’s finished product, a public relations “kit” of about 150 pages, has been a good revenue stream for her.

More importantly, she thinks the book has built up her reputation, which is crucial if you’re in a professional service business—an attorney or accountant, for example—where people are buying your reputation.

Once the book is completed, think of a unique way to market it. Fisher pitched her local newspapers in Florida the idea she was birthing a book and a baby simultaneously—this quirky idea secured her numerous placements.

Finally, pursue speaking engagements at local chambers of commerce or associations and sell the book after the event. I’ve booked authors at events nationwide and have seen how speaking opportunities can spike book sales.

After the book is complete, you can move on to your next product—perhaps an audio book.

According to a report released today by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), the cost of child care continues to increase while families struggle to afford quality care. Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2011 Update provides results from a survey of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) State Networks and local agencies, which asked for the average fees charged by child care programs in 2010.

The report, which provides the average cost of child care for infants, 4-year-olds, and school-age children in centers and family child care homes nationwide, reveals that in 36 states, the average annual cost for center-based care for an infant was higher than a year’s tuition and related fees at a four-year public college. In every state, center-based child care costs for two children (an infant and a 4-year-old) exceeded annual average rent payments.

“Child care is essential to working families and working families are key to economic growth,” said Linda K. Smith, NACCRRA’s Executive Director. “But, child care today is simply unaffordable for most families.”

According to the report, in 2010, the average annual cost of full-time care for an infant in a center ranged from $4,650 in Mississippi to $18,200 a year in the District of Columbia.  Parents of a 4-year-old child paid average fees of $3,900 in Mississippi to $14,050 a year in the District of Columbia. In New York, parents of school-age children paid up to $10,400 a year for part-time care in a center. The report also found that in 2010, the average annual cost of full-time care in a family child care home was as much as $12,100 for an infant and $11,300 for a 4-year-old in Massachusetts.

“During the critical years of birth through age 5, 90 percent of a child’s brain is developed and essential learning patterns are established which affect school-readiness,” said Smith. “Children need to be safe in child care and they also need to be in a setting that promotes their healthy development or our early childhood policies undermine our school readiness goals. It is time for policymakers to recognize that connection. Children spend an average of 35 hours a week in child care which means child care is a key early learning program.”

To improve the quality of early learning and make child care more affordable for working families, NACCRRA recommends that Congress:

• Require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to define minimally acceptable quality child care for low income children.
• Require the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study the true cost of quality care and to offer recommendations to Congress for financing to support quality options for parents.
• Reauthorize CCDBG and add requirements to improve the quality of care:

• Require 40 hours of initial training and 24 hours of annual training in key areas such as CPR, first aid, early childhood development, child behavior/discipline and child abuse detection and prevention.
• Require provider background checks, including fingerprint checks, to ensure child safety.
• Require quarterly inspections to ensure effective oversight.
• Invest in Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies to:
  • Assist providers in becoming licensed and in maintaining compliance with licensing standards; and,
  • Help parents identify quality settings.
• Increase the quality set-aside to 12 percent, increasing over several years to 25 percent (on par with Head Start).
• Provide resources to expand the availability of quality child care, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where there is a shortage of licensed care.
• Reduce barriers that prevent families from easily accessing child care assistance

To download a copy of Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2011 Update, please visit www.naccrra.org.

This guest blog is from author friend Laura Laing, who offers wise advice for parents to ensure their kids are successful at math. Thanks Laura!

When It Comes to Math, Parents Should Chill

What’s the one thing most parents have in common? We push our kids.  “Eat your veggies.”  “Do your homework.”  “Unload the dishwasher.” And even though it sounds like nagging, these lessons are the ones that help our kids grow into successful adults.

But when it comes to math, are you doing all that you can to ensure that your child or teen will be successful?  Do you even know what those things are?  The best advice may actually be surprising.

Turns out, there are a few very simple steps you can take that will make a huge difference in how your child performs in mathematics and perceives his or her math skills.

1.  Quit saying you’re bad at math. Each time you feel the urge to blurt out, “I can’t help you with your homework, because I’ve never understood it,” bite your tongue.  When our kids hear that we don’t have confidence in our math skills, they learn that they don’t need to have that confidence either.

2.  Get curious about math.  You don’t need to fall in love with calculus or suddenly find something fascinating about geometry.  But if you come across a math problem in your everyday life — when you’re cooking, sewing, shopping for a house or car, or even planning a trip — notice how you find the solution.

3.  Talk to your children about math.  So, you’ve gotten curious. Now it’s time to share that curiosity.  This can be as simple as asking your son how he would figure out the tip on a restaurant tab or asking your daughter to determine the number of gallons of paint are required to paint her room.

4.  Start with counting.  If you have younger children, the best thing you can do for them is to count everything — the stairs, the number of chocolate chips in a cookie, the number of times a dump truck is loaded up with dirt on a construction site.  Researchers have discovered that first graders who have a good sense of numbers do much better in math when they’re in the fifth grade. That numeracy begins with simple counting.

5.  Talk about your fear of math.  As your kids get older, they may express some anxiety about their math abilities.  Treat this the way you might treat similar worries about friends or dating: Listen and share your own experiences.  You don’t need to be a math super hero or know it all.  You just need to support your kids in the best way you know how.

Laura Laing knows for a fact that kids who excel in math grow up to be adults who excel in math. She is the author of Math for Grownups, a funny look at how we use math in everyday situations — from shopping to crafting to buying a home.  She blogs at www.mathforgrownups.com.