Mom Inspiring Moms

 TODAY IS THE BEST MONDAY EVER!  These are the words that my 4-year-old daughter uttered after having a half-day date with me last Monday. Because she had no school that day, we decided to have a "date", which consisted of going to the bank, eating out, shopping, and buying some groceries.  Our day started with having breakfast at home. Then, at around 9 am, we headed to our first stop: the bank! I go to the bank once every two months to get my pay for my part-time teaching job, and I tagged Tala along this time. It was very timely since she was getting curious about how I exchange my paychecks to cash. So, I asked her to come with me so that she can see firsthand how it is done.  When we got to the bank, there were no other customers other than ourselves, which is usually the case that's why I love going to this particular branch -- a bonus that it's the nearest branch to our home! Tala sat on the seat while I spoke with the teller on the counter. We waited for the ...

One morning, after my usual trip to the grocery, I saw my neighbor Nadya, a Taiwanese lady in her 50s who exudes nothing but confidence, grace, and friendliness. We had a chat about usual things that moms talk about, and before we went to say goodbye, she asked me if I was working. I said that I stopped the minute we decided to migrate to this country. Though she is aware of my predicament, she strongly encouraged me to go back to work. She smoothly laid out all the reasons for working again as if she mentally prepared for it overnight. That is how articulate she is! Needless to say, she said that it is a good idea to go back to work for the following reasons: I can't be off the market for a long time. Otherwise, younger and “fresher” people will be more marketable to employers.  I need to be prepared for the worst. She mentioned that when she gave birth to her 2 kids, she was unemployed for 5 years before deciding to work again. Good thing she did, because a few years after, her h...