Articles for Stay at Home Parents

True, Noble and Right by Cheryl Gochnauer
As we all pause this week to remember 9/11, I’m rerunning the Homebodies column I wrote in September 2001, two weeks after the attacks.

School's Out - and Mom's Stressed! by Cheryl Gochnauer
Your children are counting down the days, and so are you - but with a different attitude. What am I going to do with these kids all summer?

Managing the Costs of Moving by Cheryl Gochnauer
I apply the same penny-pinching principles no matter what I've got my eye on, whether it is marked $10 or $100,000. Here are some suggestions on managing the costs of moving.

A Penny for My Thoughts by Cheryl Gochnauer
I've learned a lot about stretching our family's finances since I decided to become a stay-at-home mom.

Opening Your Home for the Holidays by Cheryl Gochnauer
'Twas the night before visitors... and all through the house, the hostess was obsessing, drafting children and spouse.

Make Gift-Giving Easy by Cheryl Gochnauer
Don't let "Surprise!" take all the fun out of your gift giving. Instead, pull together a stash of unisex presents and packaging so you'll never flip out at last-minute party announcements again.

Garage Sale Blues by Cheryl Gochnauer
Until spring hatches another  bargain-hunting season, I'll be singing the Garage Sale Blues.

Pushover Parent by Cheryl Gochnauer
Ah, the innocence of parenting without children. It's the ultimate in backseat driving.

True, Noble and Right by Cheryl Gochnauer
Switching off the round-the-clock news, I'm finally ready to share true, noble and right images.

What Matters Most by Cheryl Gochnauer
As the phone calls from the towers reflected, family is what matters most.

Mommies on the Web by Cheryl Gochnauer
"If you're only using your computer to help your kids with their school work, you're missing out on one of the greatest support systems available to stay-at-home moms - a worldwide network of likeminded parents."

The New Front Line in Parenting by Cheryl Gochnauer
"I am part of a new front line - those of us who are reclaiming our pride in parenting. Those of us who know that Quality Time cannot be scheduled."

Momma Bear Goes Postal by Cheryl Gochnauer
"Since my ability to stay home with my kids hinges on my financial status," writes Cheryl Gochnauer. "I guard my money like a bear. Here are some common shopping pitfalls to watch for..."

Queen of Your Castle by Cheryl Gochnauer
"Alas," the king began, "I fear a plague has entered the castle grounds, transported here by the rocks thrown over the castle walls. It is affluenza, a dangerous and fast-growing affliction that brings sorrow to almost every family it infects."

Dealing with Crybabies by Cheryl Gochnauer
Since Karen and Carrie are now 12 and 8, you might think I'm out of touch with mothers of newborns. No way. I have an excellent memory and I want you to know, my glassy-eyed, sleep-deprived, still-in-my-bathrobe-at-5 friend, that you will live through this.

The Inheritance by Cheryl Gochnauer
I don't want my influence on these precious little ones to only run skin-deep. There's a greater inheritance to share with them, as we spend these fleeting years together - and the years are passing at an amazing rate.

Whistle While They Work by Cheryl Gochnauer
As your Homebodies hostess and Shirley's reformed daughter, this is the part of the column where I'm supposed to give you some wonderful advice on raising tidy kids. I have to admit, however, that training my own daughters to do their chores has been more than a little challenging.

Attack of the Beanie Babies by Cheryl Gochnauer
I refuse to give in to every whim that presents itself. I didn't adopt a Cabbage Patch doll; refused to blow a fuse over Buzz Lightyear; managed to ignore Tickle Me Elmo. I became a Beanie Weenie.

This Mother's Place by Cheryl Gochnauer
As soon as my baby hit first-grade, I'd head back for my cubicle. That was the plan, anyway. But the more time I spent with my girls, the more they depended on me. And as our once-elusive quality time together expanded, I realized I needed them, too.

Examining One Family's Stay at Home Budget: Part II by Cheryl Gochnauer
An inside look at how the Gochnauer family manages to survive on one income.

The Computer Ate My Homework  by Cheryl Gochnauer
"Mom, I've got good news, and I've got bad news."

Looking for Eden by Cheryl Gochnauer
I think everybody has experienced the sensation at one time or another. 

Homebodies Spotlight: One Husband's Transition by Cheryl Gochnauer
Stephanie has been an at-home parent for about 10 months, and loves it. But like many wives, she ran into resistance from her husband when she first expressed her desire to stay home with their children.

Kindred Spirits Speak Out by Cheryl Gochnauer
You are not alone. There are lots of kindred hearts out there. 

The Long Arm of the Maw by Cheryl Gochnauer
Before I had kids, I used to gasp at those harnesses some mall mothers attach to their wandering children.  You know, the ones that look like little doggie leashes.

His Money, or Ours? by Cheryl Gochnauer
"After many months of deliberation, it has been decided that I will quit my job of 8 years to raise my two beautiful girls" says Elizabeth

Beating the Stay-at-Home Blues by Cheryl Gochnauer
"The biggest problem I had in my first year home as a stay-at-home mom was the loneliness," writes Charlotte. 

There's Snow Place Like Home by Cheryl Gochnauer
Instead, I anticipate a day of hot chocolate and games with the girls.  But first, another blissful hour of sleep..

Summertime Blues by Cheryl Gochnauer
We just came through tax time, but there's another financial hurdle right over the horizon for working parents of elementary students: summer break.

"...And nothing but the tooth..." by Cheryl Gochnauer
Carrie, my almost-seven-year-old, has stubborn baby teeth. 

They Like Me, They Really Like Me! (I Think...)by Cheryl Gochnauer
Now that we've exchanged our cubicles for our living rooms, affirmation is harder to come by.

I Am Woman ... and Mommy, too! by Cheryl Gochnauer
But soon after my first baby was born, cracks began appearing in my New Woman philosophy.

The Stay-at-Home Dream House by Cheryl Gochnauer
I love my husband, and he loves me.  In this trite phrase lies one of the most important secrets to staying at home with your children - you and your mate are of like mind.

Mom's 2001 Resolutions, by Cheryl Gochnauer
For 2001, I'm resolving to take conscious steps to improve my relationship with my kids, my spouse, and myself.

The Definitive Choice, by Cheryl Gochnauer
Are you thinking about becoming an at-home parent, but feel paralyzed when faced with actually making the decision?  Take a look at this recent letter I received ....

Dream a Little Dream with Me, by Cheryl Gochnauer
At-home life is more than "sippy cups." Get advice and support from other at-home parents on living the SAH dream.

Why Do We Feel the Need to Bring Each Other Down? by Kristine Roberson
We women have a peculiar habit that, in general, is pretty exclusive to the estrogen-powered gender.

Daycare Dilemmas of Stay at Home Moms, by Sharon Waldrop
There is no reason for a SAHM to feel guilty about having a slight desire or desperate need for occasional time away from her children. Whether this time is spent alone or with an adult friend, doing something productive or self-pampering, it is time well-deserved. Interesting article from Toddlers Today