This article deals with the paradox where mothers rate being a mother as something that makes them very happy, yet, in other ways, the chores related to motherhood rate very low:

Ask a mom if she's happier now that she has a child and she'll usually say yes. In fact, around the world, children top the list of the most enjoyable things in life... Being the mom of a young child (especially one under 3) is rich and rewarding, but also a real strain on your mood... On their list of pleasurable activities, moms rank it lower than eating, exercising, or watching TV... In fact, kid care rates only slightly higher than housework, working, or commuting... One reason for the discrepancy between moms and experts: selective memory. When psychologists ask moms in a general way whether they like spending time with their kids, the overwhelming majority say they do because they're thinking of fun activities such as reading a book or playing in the park. When they're specifically asked to describe their actual daily routine, they remember the hours they spent struggling to get their child dressed or ready for bed.

The article offers 8 tips to focus on the positive -- and learn to make it a daily habit. The tips are: Admit when you're stressed, Get enough sleep, (Re)consider your priorities, Go with the flow, Savor the moment, Take the long view, Reconnect with your spouse, and Say thanks. Visit the article for more details about each tip.

Labels: child care, happiness, motherhood, tips

A study by UNICEF has concluded that Dutch children are the happiest of 21 industrial nations. This article gives several reasons why Dutch children happy. Here are just some of those reasons:

Their parents go out of their way to please them, and teachers expect less of them than some of their European counterparts.

"If you take the percentage of young mothers in the labour force, it's not very high in comparison to comparable countries... There is a strong tendency for mothers to raise children or take a long time off work after children are born."... children are used to a "highly protective, highly positive caring environment."

The Dutch are famous for their liberal attitudes towards drinks, drugs and sex. "Because parents are more relaxed, the dynamics of the problems are less severe than in countries where they are seen as more of a serious issue."

Labels: children, dutch, happiness, Holland, Netherlands

Before I had kids, I never imagined how challenging it would be to make new mom friends -- or master the Art of Mom Networking. I'm not talking about socializing with friends you already know who happen to be mothers. I mean connecting with complete strangers so that your children will have friends and not grow up to be homebound deviant sociopaths. Count yourself lucky if you have the opportunity to meet interesting new moms in hospitable territory -- at a neighbor's house, through a mutual friend or at church. Breaking in cold to an already established group of bonded mothers can feel exactly like being back in junior high school -- and I don't mean that in a good way.

Read the rest of this article on the struggles of making new mom friends. It lists the obstacles you'll face, includes tips to go about it, and why it's important for your child that you do. Does this effort make sense to you? You be the judge.

Labels: mom network, moms