by Solange Lopes | Apr 11, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
You know the drill…Spring break’s knocking on your working parent’s busy mind, and you start to (slightly) panic. Ok, maybe not you, the overachieving working mom over there who’s got your kids’ schedule down to the last second…But for the rest of us, aka me, myself and I, remembering that it’s violin day and which lunch bag goes into which backpack is stretching my overactive neurons enough. Never mind coming up with entertaining ideas for an entire week to keep two kids under 10 active making memories and hopefully having something, anything, to tell their class when they go back to school…
I mean, the Spring Break struggle is real! We’ve gone from the usual museum and park visits to literally being pressured to come up with innovative schemes to keep kids (and other fellow parents) on their toes. The whole thing has turned into a parental production, what with social media hyping up your fellow (and craftier) parents’ exploits at planning the perfect Spring break and all…
And here comes the less crafty, slightly planning-adverse, and thriftier mom…May we add she may not have had time to make reservations months in advance, or figured out what snacks are best to pack or what the weather will be in two weeks…
So for all the busy working parents out there who may not have their kids’ schedules pre-planned five weeks in advance, or who may just realizing Spring break is actually starting in a few days (it happens), here are some quick tips on pulling off a break to remember (in addition to scoring your kids’ gratitude forever, plus a few social media likes too):
Schedule It!
I know, I know, the whole point is not to add more to our to-do lists, right? Well, when it comes to kids being on break, being spontaneous and carefree is certainly great! Except when it takes the whole day to get out of the house, find the keys, you know, the regular stuff…But it pays to have somewhat of a routine in place, especially during breaks!
For us, it means scheduling the day ahead of time and making it fun by having the kids participate. While it makes them feel empowered and in charge (somewhat), it takes away the drudgery of planning, in addition to giving the parents a creativity break. You know…
We like to move it, move it!
The worst Spring break, or any break for that matter, sin is not to move. End result: kids going stir-crazy and driving you to open that bottle of rose earlier than expected! So think activities that make the little people move while learning something in the process! Apparently, activities that involve moving also help with retaining information and reading comprehension. Whether it’s outdoor gallery walks when the weather’s nice, or indoor kids’ museums for more weather-inclement days, pick activities that help everyone move!
When in doubt, spend time in the kitchen!
Listen, there are days when you just don’t know what other museum to visit, or arts and crafts to pull out your tired sleeve. And if there’s one activity that needs to get done, unless everyone’s trying to go on the no-food diet, it’s cooking!
For us, it means involving the kids with dinner. While it can be a process, and a hot mess to boot, it’s a great way to bond. Plus the perfect opportunity to have them brush up on their maths and reading skills, because you know, ain’t nobody ruining dinner because they can’t measure ingredients. ‘Nuff said…
Hello Memories!
Look, we do want some credit for letting the kids destroy the kitchen, and have us run through the Children’s Museum like we didn’t just let our gym membership slide for the past year…So catch a break by having the kids create their own memories of Spring Break. Whether it’s journaling, doing arts and crafts, or recording their favorite moments, allow them to use their creative juices to make mementos.
And for the non-crafty moms like myself, it’s a great opportunity to sit down somewhere and catch your breath…
The (relaxing) truth is in the dirt!
Here’s a revelation for all Type-A moms who have a personal issue with dirt. Make friends with it, fast! Some of the best Spring break activities and memories are build around…dirt and mess! Whether it’s finger painting, sand playing, or other dirt involving devices, one surefire way to keep the kids occupied (and happy) during breaks is to let them get their hands dirty..
Besides, sensory experiences are known to help correct right and left brain imbalances. So there, a scientific reason to let dirt prevail (somewhat)…
What other suggestions do you have to keep kids busy on Spring Break?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Apr 3, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
So it happened! The cup tipped over, and the coffee spilled all over my ol’ faithful Mac. I mean, all over…Right in the middle of my article! I was having a good morning too…And right there, in front of my horrified eyes, the screen sputters, and goes black…Worst nightmare!
And of course, I wasn’t prepared… Who’s ever prepared anyways? It also seems to happen when none of your data is backed up, when you’ve forgotten about the cloud, and when you have that client thing due like…tomorrow!
And when you combine lack of preparedness with lack of tech savvy, plus a serious high level of impatience and having to pick up he kids in the next hour, the end result can spell disaster!
How after weathering the loss of my ok’ faithful and contemplating the possibily of losing every family pic and word from the last 5 years or so, here are a few lessons learned from the depths of No Tech Land:
Avoid tech disaster but be ready for it!
Ok I didn’t mean to sound that gloomy… but really! If you don’t have your stuff already backed up on a regular basis, start now! Find the cloud, or some memory device, and back up your data regularly!
Research what to do when disaster strikes!
“Did you flip the laptop when it all happened so the water would not seep into the circuit board?”
“I hope you didn’t keep turning it on after the laptop went off, it would create a short-circuit!”
Great, everyone was telling me what I should have done after I really needed the info. Of course, I didn’t flip the laptop upside down, or unplugged it and refrained from turning it on for some time. No, what I did was frantically turning it on while cleaning it with a towel (thus allowing all the coffee to seep deeper into it)…I mean, how was I supposed to know?
So long story short, take some time to read up on what you’re supposed to do (and not do) when tech disaster strikes! Or ask around, or at least attempt to know what not to do if you spill coffee on your laptop, or drop it from the kitchen table…
Breathe and stay calm!
If you only use your laptop to pay the bills or play around online, tech disaster may hurt but not as much as if you’re an entrepreneur and your whole life/income is saved on it! Truth be told, I failed miserably at this…Instead of remaining calm, cool and composed, of course, I freaked out, frantically hitting the start button on my laptop…
Lesson learned: instead of panicking, accept the situation for what it is. You can’t go back in time, so take a deep breath…
Contact higher-ups, clients and anyone else relying on your work
If anyone is relying on you to submit any work/documentation/files that require you to have use of your laptop, contact them first! As soon as you can text, call or contact supervisors, bosses, professors, clients, etc, please do so and inform them of the situation.
Providing an early heads up will help smooth things out, and buying the time you need to address the situation.
Find other alternatives!
Being out of a computer is no reason to slack off! Make use of other resources, such as asking for a loaner for instance. If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur, find the closest library and use it for free! You can also opt to split your time between the library and your office, if you happen to be a corporatepreneur.
Accept the help of others as well! Your friends and family may offer to lend a hand. Your office may also offer you great alternatives. Graciously say yes!
Make this resolution: “I will always back up my files!”
Nothing like experiencing a situation like this to take your precautions! At least I’ve learnt my lesson…Which prompted me to invest in an external hard drive. Yes, we have the Cloud nowadays, but not all your files can be stored on it. If anything, consider investing in an external hard drive, and backup your files at least once a month.
I also use tools such as Google Docs and Dropbox, through which I can access my documents on the web at any time.
You turn: How have you survived a computer crash in your career or business?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Mar 12, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Sweepstakes – Duns Castle, Ireland
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” has always been one of my favorite movies! As we get ready to celebrate the release of the Beauty and the Beast movie on March 17th, what better way to celebrate than with a stay at a gorgeous castle! For the occasion, Home Away is hosting a sweepstakes just in time for the movie’s release.
This sweepstake is giving you and 20 guests the chance to win a stay at Duns Castle in Ireland. If you’re really a fan of “The Beauty and The Beast”, the scenery won’t fail to charm and take you back!
See below a few pics of Duns Castle in Ireland, as well as a video showing the absolutely gorgeous grounds:
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Sweepstakes – Duns Castle, Ireland
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Sweepstakes – Duns Castle, Ireland
Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Sweepstakes – Duns Castle, Ireland
Want to join in the Beauty and the Beast fun? Click HERE to participate in the sweepstakes!
Good Luck!
The Corporate Sis.
PS: This is a sponsored post. Please note I get compensated when you choose to enter the sweepstakes.
by Solange Lopes | Mar 5, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
So I went on a road trip with the kids during their last February vacation. Yes, me…the adventure/risk-adverse, long-distance-driving-adverse, patience-impaired, non-sneaker/practical-shoes-wearing, coffee-fueled mom took on the mission to drive my kids two states away to visit the BFF. Because I had dared myself, all atop my six-inch heels, to kick the fear and try something new…You know, those things you say after reading positive quotes in chain on Instagram and vowing to change your life…before you actually realize what kind of hot mess you’ve just volunteered for…
And when said hot mess involves two kids with (stubborn) minds of their own, the open highway, and unpredictable bladders, you know it’s a wrap…So for all the moms like myself who are not experts at packing ahead of time, not forgetting the toothbrushes, or taking enough underwear, here’s my own, no-shame-in-my-game version of the non-adventurous mom’s guide to survive road trips with kids. Because: no mom is perfect, that’s why they invented coffee and waterproof concealer…
Behold the packing list!
Who else is a pro at packing everything but the toothpaste and everyone’s underwear? Stop frontin’, you know you did…Let’s keep it real, unless you’ve got your life together (which who does really?), or you’re from my mother’s direct (and chronically late) lineage, you may be packing about an hour before leaving…
So to ward off the crazy prospects of looking for strawberry-flavored toothpaste somewhere between interstate highways, make a packing list. So no matter when you actually get around to packing throwing clothing and useful general hygiene objects into traveling bags, you don’t have to discriminate against your brain for premature ageism…
Just grab some fun list pads like these, write it all down, stick it on the fridge where you can find it, and give that mommy brain of yours a well-deserved break…Just sayin’…
Respect your bladders!
When you have to stop in the middle of the Connecticut suburbs and hide your kids squatting behind the car because they’re about to pee themselves, you start respecting the Queen Bladder. There are many things in nature you can remedy, but if you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go…
So don’t do like I did and try skipping in service areas so “we can get there faster”, only to have a general family peeing session by the roadside, with cars driving by…Instead, have a pee stop before leaving the house, and pretty much every time you see a rest area. Oh, and don’t trust those little humans to tell you they have to go ahead of time. The only signal you’ll get is something resembling a loud cry before the peeing waterfalls open for service…You get the drift…
And if you’re in the middle of potty training, drop everything and get yourself some Luvs. I’m telling you, it ain’t worth it…
Got Cleaning Supplies?
Speaking of bodily fluids and other food messes, unless you want to drive in a giant mobile trash, please pack along some cleaning supplies. After my initial road trip disasters, I always like to take some easy plastic bags (these scented ones are my faves), and some baby wipes like these generic Parent’s Choice ones. And because there are serious chances you will drop your coffee on top of the ill-packed snacks, some disinfecting wipes like these Clorox ones might help…
Snack smart!
Road trip snacking 101: if you want to stop at every service area for a general peeing session, pack loads of juices! And if you’ve not experienced the whole road trip pee situation yet, go back a few paragraphs up…
Prepare a cooler where you can toss a few types of food. Fruit, cheese sticks, bolachas (Cape-Verdean cookies), sandwiches, etc…Warning: anything with a sucky top, including yogurt tube, WILL explode all over your kid and the car, all over, every time…
Technology’s a savior!
I know what’s said about not allowing kids to have too much access to technology. Yet when it comes to road trips with kids, the right tech can save everyone’s sanity. So invest in quality kids’ earphones, like these Puro Headphones, awarded one of the best headphones for kids.
Oh, and don’t forget the tablets/DVD/iPad chargers. Not that I’d ever do that…
Make it a (fun) teaching experience!
No matter how many snacks you bring, or how many times the kids are allowed to watch “Frozen” on repeat, nothing beats enjoying the experience live! Get the kids to actually enjoy what’s going on outside their windows, by teaching them the various states you drive through and having fun quizzes around it…
Or have a sing-along competition, until they fall asleep from the dreadful voices…
Have a tantrum plan!
Tantrums/mood swings will happen, period! So you need a plan. And no, it doesn’t include turning up the music any louder, or threats to never ever give them chocolate ever again…
Whatever works best for you to calm the tension, whether it’s to recite mantras and call forth your inner peace, or use AM static (I’ve heard it’s quite effective), come up with your tantrum plan.
BONUS: CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR YOUR “NON-ADVENTUROUS MOM’S GUIDE TO ROAD TRIPS WITH KIDS”
Now to you…what are your best tips to survive road trips with kids?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 12, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
As I watched Beyonce glowing in all her expectant glory on the stage of the Grammys, I literally had a moment. As in all the goddesses of times past, present and future (plus those you occasionally call on to when you’ve had one too many coffees and still can’t tackle your to-do list) came down together on that Grammys stage all at once…I mean, there aren’t enough hashtags to picture the glorious career moment Queen Bey laid down for all of us to see (ahem…including the now silent and unidentified souls who claimed she used surrogates to have her babies, just sayin’…)
As a career gal, I was particularly mesmerized to watch an accomplished woman show up in her career, not in spite of being an expectant mother, but precisely because of it. How many moms-to-be, and moms in general, can proudly show off their belly on the job with as much pride as Bey did, and actually get a huge career boost for it? Granted, most of us don’t exactly grind the way the Queen Bey does, but still…
Most of us wait to find the right time to announce our pregnancies at work, and despite our genuine happiness at the prospect of carrying Life, silently make peace with the fact that our bulging bellies also mean we may not advance as far in our careers as we’d like during this time. And unlike Bey, many of us may not be particularly keen on displaying our growing baby bumps in the Board room for fear it may make us look slightly inadequate, or even worse, hormonal…
But it took just ONE performance by Beyonce to show that not only is it OK to rock your baby bump while on a major work event, it’s also just become highly advisable. Because: carrying double the bundle of joy while rendering a MAJOR performance, all the while lighting up the whole stage/world/universe, is something only women can do! And so is carrying through entire pregnancies while holding down a job, raising another one (or many) little humans, being a wife, and not giving up on dinner/laundry/contouring…
So next time the world tries to convince you that carrying babies may make you less competent/productive/extraordinary, just think about that time Beyonce lit a whole Grammys stage with her double baby bump, and got an award for Lemonade to boot…
And go on and proudly show how you can actually get that month-end presentation done, while positively slaying in that maternity suit and glowing from all that mommy-to-be-unstoppable-creature vibe…
via GIPHY
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Feb 10, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
So you’re working from the comfort of your home, in your PJ’s, sipping on your hot cup of cocoa while dropping some nuggets of professional wisdom on your laptop….All is well, you don’t have to wear pants, comb your ‘fro, or look human for that matter, and you can still get your work done without the office buzz and constant interrupting.
That is, until your toddler comes crashing into your office with a full cup of juice now spilling all over your laptop, actually, ahem, the company’s laptop…And there goes the romantic aspect of working from home, right out the window, as you proceed to call IT to figure out how you can save that spreadsheet you’ve been working on for the past day, or resuscitate the almost-defunct machine…
That’s the story of many working moms (and dads) who get the luxury of working from home, with the steep discount of doing it all in the lovely company of their active, attention-needing kids. And while there’s a lot being said out there about working productively from home, and eliminating all the distractions that come with it, what’s not being said enough is that doing the whole work from home thing with kids is a whole ‘nother ball game. As in juggling ten thousand balls in the air, and dropping all of them, all at once…Yeah, like that…
Many companies allow their employees the flexibility of working from home. It’s a great perk that’s often used as a backup for school closings, unavailable childcare, doctor appointments, etc. Except in most cases, it also means you’re working extra hard to deal with your kids, your work, and looking for your pants in the meantime…
From catching up on my work from home day with a work-from-home evening/night/whatever it takes, to having full-blown conversations with my kids about the importance of letting their parents earn a paycheck (so they could buy toys), here are some of the best most practical tips I’ve gathered over time. Nothing glamorous, just what works without anyone losing their mind, hair or allowance for the next 10 years:
Start early!
As in: wake up before the storm starts! At least that’s how I call it… I try to set my alarm for at least an hour before everyone wakes up, not just to be able to hear my own thoughts, but to get started on any major task I have for the day…
Have a P-L-A-N!
It’s one thing to have somewhat of a plan when you’re working from home alone and trying to stay away from the fridge or keep from getting it done and over with that pesky laundry!
It’s another when you’re surrounded by kids who have zero concept of your professional obligations! Hence the P-L-A-N! I’m not talking about your basic to-do list, but an actual kid-proof contingency plan, complete with games, fun activities, and even sugar bribes….because: sanity…
Be realistic!
Let’s be real! Working from home with one or multiple little humans is not going to be as productive as being in your comfy cube listening to jazz music… Just sayin’…
To avoid major frustration and chocolate meltdown, be realistic about how much you can REALLY get done! Adjust your to-do list to reflect the most urgent tasks and use early morning hours, naps and other quiet times to get your hustle on…
Take breaks!
Between running after your kids to make sure they don’t accidentally lock themselves in the freezer, and being on conference calls while singing the “happy poop” song to your toddler, it can get rough! I mean, I remember dreaming of the peace and quiet of my cube while begging the kids to keep quiet so I could explain why my project status was down to zero…
So give yourself (and the kids) some breaks during the day! Whether it’s taking a quick walk outside, playing hide-and-seek for 10 minutes, take a load off sometimes…
Keep the communication with your team open!
Make sure to keep expectations on par with your team! Set clear deadlines and allow yourself what I call some “buffer” time…. You know, in case the little one unplugs the wireless connection, spills juice on your (company) laptop, or has a serious crisis over non-cooperating Lego pieces…
Use the rewards system!
You don’t know what working from home surrounded by little humans is until you’ve actually done it…And come out of it alive with some sanity and professionalism left!
So reward yourself for holding it down all day and still be sending civil emails and well-crafted reports… Oh, and give the kids a hug for actually trying to understand why “mommy” has to keep her job to be able to buy more Lego pieces…
Get feedback!
Don’t forget to seek and get feedback to improve on your productivity while working from home. It could be a simple “hey how am I doing?” to your boss, or a personal assessment of how many projects you’re completing in the office versus at home…
Oh, and ask the kids how mommy’s doing too…You’d be surprised how many ideas of legitimate kids’ bribes they can come up with…
What’s your best advice to work from home with kids?
To Your Success,
Solange
by Solange Lopes | Jan 6, 2017 | Working Mom & Woman Tips
After we got married, hubby and I started a family tradition of talking about /writing down our goals at the start of every new year. As two consenting adults having recovered from excessive dessert consumption, we’d swap intentions for the next 365 days. Kinda like when we swapped vows, minus the white dress, the pricey venue, and that tight undergarment that threatened to choke me…
A few years and a few babies in, our intention-swapping process was met with little wondering eyes from the little people in our lives, who started asking us: “What’s a goal?” It was time to start including the little people in our family tradition…
But how do you explain the concept of goals to kids? How do you help kids set said goals too? Do they even have realistic dreams yet to nurture? And if they do, aren’t we running the risk to crush them under our rigid adult goals and intentions?
I mean, dear daughter wants to be a singer, and my little guy has his (stubborn) heart set on being a superhero. If we were back in my native Senegal, their sweet dreams would have been welcome with the rolling eyes and pursed lips of concerned parents. And following, the immediate admonition to quit dreaming and promptly start settling for a career in medicine or business. Or possibly finding a rich husband if you were female…
Back to my dear little people’s goals…I have some more thinking to do when it comes to the whole superhero thing…But for my future in-house Mariah Carey, while her goal is a very long-term one, it can help her to set benchmarks to attain it…Like little tiny steps she can accomplish every year to get there, or anywhere she sets her mind to really…
When we started realizing that we could actually let our kids safely express their dreams, and teach them to set benchmarks towards them while putting up with setbacks and roadblocks, the whole goal-setting process with kids became more of a fun adventure…
Here are seven imperfect but working principles every parent can use to help kids develop strong goals and start the new year (or new month/week/day) energized and confident (minus the occasional candy and sweet treats):
Ask Your Kids About their Goals/Dreams/Aspirations
The last time my mom was visiting from Senegal, we were discussing how little parents back home talk to their kids. And how little they know about their kids in the end…I mean, I still remember my friend (we’ll call her Aminata) telling her mom she wanted to skip out on college and become a writer instead…after they’ve put themselves in debt to send her to medical school. I let you image the amount of eye rolls and finger snapping coloring the rest of the conversation…
Start with getting used to asking your little ones about their dreams, goals and aspirations. Even if all you’ll hear about at first is superheroes and Shopkins…
Encourage your little people to have realistic goals.
Ok, so this part is a lot less pleasant than letting your son or daughter take you along La-La-Land on their dream adventures with Superman on the moon…But it’s also one of the most valuable lessons you may be teaching them…
Most times, kids come up with gigantic goals that are so far off reality you may have to take a deep breath. I mean, if dear daughter sings so out of tune the family cat runs and hides under her own litter box, it may be high time for a reality check. Like “baby, is this something you really want to do?”
But challenge them with just-out-of-reach goals.
As much as we may want our little people to have realistic goals, we also don’t want them to settle into Comfort Zone (or our basement) forever…If you don’t push them to challenge themselves, they may never leave their rooms…
That’s the great thing about setting goals that are attainable, but force them to reach. Goals that teach them to try. Goals that challenge them to push themselves.
Help them set specific goals.
A good goal is never so vague no one really knows what in the world you’re talking about. Like with the whole superhero thing, or being a star soccer player…
After allowing yourself to smile on the inside, motivate your little people to be more specific about their goals. Ask questions like: “What do you want to be a superhero?”, “How many goals do you want to score per game?”…
Brainstorm together to make these goals more specific, and turn it into a game to make it even more fun.
Do the Breakdown thing.
The next time dear daughter decides to create a worldwide line of beaded bracelets (hello entrepreneurial spirit), help her do the breakdown thing. Teach her to chop her goals off into small, manageable chunks. Like making a couple of bracelets that look like bracelets first. Then maybe find a client (or bribe Grandpa to buy them all)…
This way, they’ll know where to start, what to reach for, and the art of building a Beaded Bracelet Empire.
Map It Out.
Ok, I love mapping stuff out…There’s something about drawing little paths and checkpoints and goalposts that make me all warm inside…And doing it with my little ones as we set up goals at the beginning of the year multiplies the fun factor (plus the messes and graffiti everywhere)…
Help your little people build visual aids documenting their goals and the steps to reach them. Make it a fun exercise, and push them to check in on their goals every so often. That will help them in turn develop their own systems to set goals and crush them.
Turn It Into Family Fun.
Goal-setting is more fun when done in family…With all the mess, everyone speaking on top of each other, and the kids cleaning their sticky hands on the New Year’s vision board…That’s family fun for you…
But seriously, despite all the confusion, setting goals together as a family can help foster an environment of cooperation and support. Plus some good laughs in the process…
How do you help your kids set goals for the New Year?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
