Moms Network

Running A Family Is Tough: Problems That Arise And How To Solve Them ASAP

Running a family is tough with children as all people in a family can have very different personalities. For this reason things are not always going to be smooth sailing in a household as there will be various conflicts and issues. The most important factor of getting through these issues is that of communication as letting a problem fester only makes it worse. A proactive approach to communicating displeasure will help avoid big blowout fights where all problems come out during a heated argument. The following are common issues that a family can have and how to effectively deal with these as a parent running the household.

Money Is Starting To Get Tight

Personal finance issues are extremely stressful as lack of money could impact the family as a whole in an immense fashion. The first thing that needs to be done in these situations is create a concrete budget. Families that do not have a budget might not understand where money could be saved in the first place. Tracking all monthly expenses might illuminate an issue of the family going out to eat multiple times per week instead of staying in for a home cooked meal. For those that do not want to modify their lifestyle there are other income options as a plethora of freelance jobs are available online. This can be supplemental income that can help a family get out of debt or avoid it totally. The opportunity to earn without sacrificing time at home with the family makes this an ideal option if the current family income is not sufficient.

Child Having Problems At School

A child having problems at home might need extra help outside of the classroom setting. Unfortunately teachers have their personal teaching styles which could work for a majority of children but just not yours. The issue could be that your child is more interested in socializing than that of paying attention during class. Once you have identified the issue it is important to remedy it as fast as possible. You do not want your child to fall behind and be labeled a poor performer in school as this can impact the way they are place in future classes. Sit down on a nightly basis to help with homework as you might be able to explain certain things in a way that your child won’t forget. Behavioral issues need to also be dealt with quickly as you do not want an expulsion impacting your child years later. Seeking professional help for behavioral problems is important but make sure that consequences are set for specific actions to deter your child from doing it in the future.

Family Dog Has Behavioral/Separation Anxiety Issues

The family dog tearing up the home when you leave for extended periods could be a symptom of various things. Lack of exercise can cause dogs to be destructive so taking the dog out for a long walk before leaving could be the key to solving this problem. Separation anxiety issues can be a bit tougher as you might need to medicate your dog in these cases. CBD for dogs can be used without fear of side effects that tend to come with medications that are not naturally based. This can also be a saving grace if you need to bring the dog on a family road trip as the last thing you want is a wild dog while traveling at high speeds.

A Person Is Not Pulling Their Weight With Housework

Every household has a person whether it is a teen or spouse that does not contribute to doing any housework. Chore wheels have become popular due to this so create one of these so a person is not stuck doing the lawn week after week. If your spouse is not doing any housework it is time to sit them down to talk about it. Communicating this issue could be the end of it as at times people do not realize how little they are doing until they are informed.

Teenager Is Starting To Rebel

If you have teenagers one might have a rebellious streak while the other does not. Each teen is different so it is important to allow some rebellion as long as it does not go too far. Teenagers want freedom and are in an awkward time of life where people tell them to act like an adult but do not treat them as so. Keep an eye out for signs of substance abuse and monitor grades as this can be the first sign of something occurring. The most important thing is to make sure that your teen avoids anything that could impact their future like that of an arrest.

Run your family effectively by using the tips above and facing problems head on instead of ignoring them hoping they will go away. A mother’s job is hard so do your best as running a home is a team effort!

Keeping The Lines Of Communication Open When A Spouse Travels For Work

Working Moms are able find balance between work and kids. However, if your spouse travels for work, many of the household and parenting duties can become overwhelming quickly. For traveling jobs like sales or trucking, your spouse could be away for weeks at a time. This could leave a serious burden on you. But, it is much easier to manage if you have an open line of communication with your spouse. Here are some of the best ways to keep in touch while your spouse is on the road for work.

Prepare A Plan Before The Work Trip

In order to stay in touch, couples should know the duration of the trip ahead of time. Truck drivers might be on the road for several weeks at a time. Establishing a return date gives both of you a clear idea of what will be expected. You can discuss major events or activities coming up. Either at home or on the trip, note any anticipated busy periods. If you know of these busy periods ahead of time, you will not feel slighted or forgotten while your spouse is traveling for work. Likewise, you can make the most of the times where they have some down time.

Create A Schedule For Yourself

While your spouse is away, it is too easy to get all-consumed thinking about yourself. As the only partner home, you can create some balance by sticking to a schedule. In the mornings, maintain a workout schedule. In the evenings, set aside time for yourself. This will help balance out any emotions of jealously towards your spouse. By having some time for yourself, you are much more likely to feel fulfilled and communicate openly with your spouse. In turn, your spouse might share more about their day, revealing that they are not “out” while you are at home.

Setup Routine Daily Call Times

With both of your schedules laid out, setup a routine for calling each other. Most working travelers will cover territories within a country or region. Find a time in the morning that works for both of you. While on the move, your spouse might have to adjust with a different time zone. If this is the case, you might need to change your call routine from trip to trip. Make the most of your time management skills. Whatever time you choose, a quick morning call can keep communication consistent. Once this call is part of your routine, it will feel like much less of an effort to keep in touch.

Notify Your Spouse Of An Emergency Immediately

Both spouses should notify the other right away in the event of an emergency. Establish this rule early on, especially if your spouse is on the road full time. As noted on GirardiKeese.com, “there were 475,000 crashes involving large trucks. About 22 percent of them (106,000) injured one or more people.” If anything were to happen, you need to be able to trust that your partner will tell you if they get into an accident or injured. On the other hand, if something goes wrong at home, your spouse would want to know right away too. This policy will ensure that communication lines are open in the most critical moments.

Make Commitments For Discussions

Throughout the duration of a work trip, either spouse might need to have a long discussion. Problem solving is a significant aspect of any relationship. In order to solve problems together, follow through on commitments to talk for an extended period. While at home or on the road, it is easy to miss that 8:30 PM call. Set reminders and alerts so that you are ready to discuss whatever issues are at hand. As a result, you will be able to tackle any family, financial or social issues together. In case one spouse can’t make the call, give advance notice so there is no resentment or tension. Making commitments will keep you communicating and solving problems as a team.

Having a spouse that travels can strain any relationship. You have to balance working, motherhood and marriage. However, there are several ways to keep your lines of communication open during work trips. Firstly, plan out the trip with busy and slow times. Create a schedule at home. Setup routine daily calls so they become a habit. Agree to notify each other in the event of an emergency. Additionally, keep your commitments to discuss complex issues and problems. By following these steps, you can stay in touch with your spouse while they travel for work.

How Companies Are Creating Pay Equality

Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act and other fair pay legislation, women in many companies across the United States still earn less than their male colleagues. The pay gap is even more prominent for minority women, who often find themselves among a company’s lowest earners when compared against male or white coworkers. As the American workforce grows in diversity, several organizations are working to remedy this issue by implementing changes from within. Here are three major ways that companies have fought to abolish the wage gap.

Establish Pay Transparency

Discussion of salary within a company has traditionally been a somewhat taboo topic, but some companies are working to eliminate the stigma of discussing pay in hopes that it will promote better wage equality. Oftentimes, pay inequalities remain unnoticed simply because there is a lack of discourse surrounding salary. If employees are openly aware of each other’s salaries and the salaries offered at different levels, this makes it much more difficult for pay inequalities to persist. Additionally, it is beneficial to encourage managers to discuss pay decisions with one another, rather than making choices unilaterally. The more open discourse becomes, the easier it will be to address biases before they become an issue.

Create a Clear Structure for Payment

One of best ways to promote salary transparency while maintaining equality is to implement hiring and payment guidelines. Many businesses operate without clearly established procedures for handling things such as hiring, promotions, and differing levels of experience among employees. To ensure fair pay, companies should institute a compensation structure. This involves looking at market salary data, working with career development professionals, and observing where pay gaps currently exist. It also means that the company must determine precisely what employee skills or experience they are looking for at each pay grade.

Formatting a thorough payment philosophy may take several months or more, but creating a clear framework is a crucial step needed to achieve company-wide pay equality. When a business has a concrete payment policy, managers and employees can look to it for guidance on maintaining pay standards that benefit all workers.

Maintain Oversight

Creating a fair payment structure does little good if that structure is not enforced and maintained. Among companies that have achieved pay equality, a key component of their strategy typically involves making regular salary check-ins. Conducting salary audits at periodic intervals will help managers analyze where issues may arise and stay on track with the company’s equal compensation system.

Another helpful method to maintain pay equity is to eliminate the practice of asking job candidates for their salary history. This is a notable change from the conventional hiring practices at many businesses, but it is one of the best ways to guarantee that new employees do not continuously suffer the effects of discriminatory practices from previous companies. It also incorporates new hires into the organization without undermining the established payment framework.

Achieving pay equality requires effort and dedication from everyone within an organization. Making a sudden move to eliminate wage gaps may be a bold step for a business, but it speaks strongly to the company’s values of fairness and honesty. In the end, this commitment is well worthwhile, and it will contribute to a more positive company image and a better work environment for all employees.