FOREWORD
BY THE MOMPRENEURS®

Most of us embark on the amazing journey of motherhood never realizing how much time day-to-day parenting actually takes. Before children, which one of us could ever imagine going through an entire day without being able to fit in a five-minute shower? Yet every mom with a newborn has spent many unwashed and rumpled hours in her bathrobe, focused entirely on her baby’s needs. And who would think that a six-year old’s academic, social, and athletic life could be so tightly scheduled, it could leave the average mom with no time to boil pasta for dinner—much less sit down and read the newspaper? We’ve all been there, too.

Tracy Lyn Moland has also been there. And it’s from this firsthand experience that she discovered it was possible - and downright necessary - for every mom to forge an identity apart from her role as mother. What’s more, Tracy shows us how we can reclaim our sense of self and become better parents in the process. Her secret - using effective management skills to explore dreams, set goals, and organize time and space.

Just seeing the words “time management” on a book can stress out a mom before she even starts reading. Someone who buys a birthday present on the way to the party and wraps it in the car just can’t relate to that kind of “business speak!” But Mom Management is calming and non-threatening from the very first page. It’s almost as if Tracy is holding your hand as she takes you on a journey of self-discovery. Baby step by baby step, you can follow along at your own pace, as she gently guides you in creating a Life Map, balancing your many roles, and finding reservoirs of time you never thought existed. Through personalized activities and practical advice, the book motivates and encourages moms to sneak in and schedule the “me” time they so desperately need.

Reading is one of those luxuries that time-starved mothers often postpone or do without. But make the time to read Mom Management—you’ll be glad you did.

Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano

Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano, are the authors of Mompreneurs®: A Mother’s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success (Perigee, 2002) and Mompreneurs® Online: Using the Internet to Build Work@Home Success (Perigee, 2001). Visit them at http://www.mompreneursonline.com