Is it weird for me to work at home while I send Gracie to preschool?

And even more important … why do I think this? Why do I feel guilt? I would not think it was weird for me to send Gracie to preschool (which has been wonderful for her, by the way, she even has friends now!), if I went to a J.O.B. in an office. Or even if I got dressed up and went to an office for my own business. But somehow, sitting here at my living room desk, it enters my mind that it is weird that I have other people watch over her when I am "just" working from home. As if working from home is not "working." As if I would be able to run a company with Gracie running around, yanking on my capri’s, coloring on stacks of Post-it Notes, wining "Mommy, up! Please!" (does "please" count if it is screamed?) I resolve to not judge myself based upon the fact that I am working in bare feet, in my living room, with my cat next to me. I am still running a company, making money, giving advice … just as "real work" as performed any office (and for that matter, more real than any J.O.B. I ever had before I hung my shingle). And I resolve to not feel weird about being only mommy dropping off her kid that’s not dressed in "work clothes."

Do You Squidoo?

I’ve discovered the next generation in social networking - Squidoo.com. Squidoo is based on the concept that everyone is an expert is something, and if the expert was to create a webpage containing all of what you need to do about XYZ niche, it would be much more efficient than trying to search on the web or research the issue yourself. These webpages are called Lens — the idea is that it is bringing a particular question or problem into greater focus. The cool thing is that it is super easy to create a Lens (no html needed, unless you want to) and use that as a place to give your opinion, display your research, practice writing, or promote your product/service/book. Here are my current Lenses … and while you are there, don’t forget to click on the stars at the top to rank each Lens. Thanks! 6 Simple Secrets to Get Out of Debt and Stay Out Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/getoutofdebtsecrets How to Avoid Business Owners Top 10 Money Mistakes Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/bizmoneymistakes Who is Elizabeth Potts Weinstein? Lens http://www.squidoo.com/elizabethpottsweinstein How to Enjoy Plane Travel with Your Toddler http://www.squidoo.com/toddlertravel

CARES airplane child seat — brilliant!

Are you sick of lugging the huge carseat on the plane? Hate sticking your kid in an uncomfortable, unable-to-recline carseat for hours and hours? Do you end up taking your kid out of the carseat during the flight, which defeats the purpose? Check out www.kidsflysafe.com CARES airplane child restraint system. We used it on our flight to Hawaii, which is a 5 hour flight from San Francisco. I did not want Gracie stuck in a carseat the entire time, because (1) she would be uncomfortable, (2) she would not have a lap or be able to use the table, so she would have a hard time playing, and (3) she would end up sitting on my lap anyway. But I did not want her to go carseat-less, because I did not want her flying around the plane if there was turbulence or if we had problems during takeoff, taxi, or landing. I should have taken a photo of her in it … I will when we fly to St. Louis in a few weeks. Here’s a photo from their website. The CARES system is a seat-belt thing that goes around the plane seat back, that converts the lapbelt into a 5-point harness seatbelt. It worked great, took less time to install than a regular carseat, and Gracie complained only minimally. Not really from the seatbelt, but from not being allowed to run all over the plane. I highly recommend it!

Vacation With Toddler

We just got back from our first real vacation-with-kid, to the Big Island in Hawaii (pictures to come when I find the cord to connect the computer to my camera). When I say "real," I mean a vacation that was not people tagging along on a business trip, or a trip to visit family. I mean a vacation with no actual purpose, except to relax and spend time together. But is vacationing with a 2 year old relaxing? In a word … no. Not really. I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation, and was excited to put Gracie back in preschool on Monday. As wonderful of a time as we had, as a family, with minimal business work (Mark worked 1-3 hrs/day and I still checked email) in one of the most beautiful locations on earth … it was not really a complete vacation for me. Because even though I didn’t take my business with me, I still took my kid and my husband. So a big part of my "work" was still there. And, since Mark threw out his back on the first night, and then caught a bad cold the next day, I had two babies to mother. So now I am planning a girls-only, adult vacation for just me. I’m planning to visit a college friend this summer (who is still sans-child), for adult-only, no-kids, no-boy fun. As much as I love and cherish both my family and my business … sometimes I just need a break!