Mothers of Young Children, a Kingwood-based parenting organization, is sponsoring a free educational seminar, “Mothers Making it Work” on Saturday, October 16, 2004, from 10 am to 11 am. The seminar will be held at The Lodge Apartments, a co-sponsor, at 938 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood.
The seminar will feature a panel of women in a variety of work situations, including full-time, part-time, work-from-home, direct sales, and business start-ups. Attendees will learn from moms “in the trenches” how they juggle work and family responsibilities. Participants will also receive information on organizational strategies, time saving tips, job search resources, networking strategies, a list of business opportunities and an exclusive report, “10 Things a Working Mom Needs to Know.”
Mothers of Young Children has its origins in a Kingwood area playgroup that began in 1985. Through the years, the group has evolved into a dynamic organization with over 120 members offering a wide range of services to its members and the general public.
As the needs of the membership have changed, MOYC has evolved to meet them. Originally, the organization met during the day. As more of its members were in full-time or part-time work situations, the general meetings were changed to meet in the evenings to accommodate working moms in the early 1990’s.
The changing demographics of MOYC could be considered a snapshot of the changing roles of mothers in the work force. According to Workforce 2020, in 1980, 39 percent of families had two wage-earners. By 1997, 70 percent of mothers had paying jobs.
As the responsibilities of work and family have grown, along with the rising cost of childcare, women have increasingly sought alternative work situations to balance work and family. According to a 1995 poll by Penn & Schoen Associates, 88 percent of working individuals with children want flex-time scheduling.
The seminar, “Mothers Making it Work,” was conceived in order to provide women with information on managing time, family, and work. Current MOYC President, Cynthia Cantrell, feels that MOYC members are particularly qualified to speak on the subject. “We have members in every type of work situation possible,” she states. “We have members who work full-time and part-time, in addition to stay-at-home moms. There are women who work from home for large companies and we have a number of members who have started their own business.”
The seminar organizer, Carla Alvarez, credits support and contacts gained through MOYC in her decision to start her own business, Legacy Marketing Services . “I was involved in some projects through MOYC and I met all these amazing women that had businesses that they were managing while their children were young, and I thought ‘I can do that.’” Alvarez offers marketing and business support services to companies. “I would not have been able to do it if I had not met a friend through MOYC that I was able to trade childcare with.”
The importance of support is a recurring theme among working women. Andie Szabo, second generation owner of Humble-based Extension Nineteen Answering Service and single mother of one, is thankful for grandparents that are close by to help with childcare. “I would not have near the flexibility in my work schedule if I had to rely on childcare outside of the family.” Extension Nineteen is a professional answering service with a wide range of delivery options.
If this topic interests you or someone you know, please join us for a fun, informative seminar on Saturday, October 16th, from 10 am to 11 am at the Lodge Apartments at 938 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood. We hope you will come join us in hearing how other "Mothers are making it work".
Seating for the seminar is limited. Those interested in attending should RSVP to Carla Alvarez by phone at 713.289.0819 or by email at
Mothers of Young Children is an organization whose purpose is defined by the motto, “Mothers Helping Mother.” MOYC hosts a variety of monthly activities. For more information, visit http://www.kingwoodmoyc.org.
