From: Xenia Gazette, Sept. 2001

Today's mothers face a challenge past generations rarely considered: to be or not to be a stay-at-home mom.

     Changes in our society have raised questions unasked before.  Do my children really need me full time?  Is my income essential to my family?  Will society value me more if I am out therein the work force?  Isn't it s waste not to use the education and training I struggled so hard to attain?  If I can manage being a full-time mom and employee, why shouldn't I?

     Is there a solution to this dilemma?  Recently I interviewed a young mother who seems to have solved this problem for herself.

     "I finally found my path," said Kathy Kronz Faber, a 1985 Beavercreek High School graduate.

     Kathy was in town visiting her mom and finishing up work on a new video she recently produced called "Baby See 'N Sign" which teaches parents how to use American Sign Language with their babies.

     "I thought I would end up in news, but was disillusioned," said Kathy, who has a degree in journalism from Arizona State University.  While working on her master's, Kathy co-anchored a show for the university, "CNN Week in Review."  That was followed by an internship in Phoenix for KPNX, Channel 12, where she learned that media work is cut-throat, demanding many weekend hours, and not conducive to family life.

     Kathy wanted a family.  She married Eric in 1993 and began working for EMG, Educational Management Group, producing educational videos for schools.  In 1998, they moved to Oregon and in 1999, her son was born, followed by a daughter in 2000.  Another baby is due in February.

     Kathy loves her work and being a mom, and she found a way to do both as a mom-preneur.  "I made the decision that if I had kids, I would stay home.  Moms like me were groomed to go to school and then into business.  I think there's a shift in thinking about that.  I decided to sacrifice the second income and stay home with my babies.  Many of the moms I'm meeting now feel they want to be there to talk to their babies and teach them values and morals.  We want to have family dinners again.  We don't want to dump them in day care."

     But these mothers enjoyed their careers.  Putting her training together with her interest provided the perfect solution for Kathy.  She researched baby signing and decided she could bring it to life using her skills as a videographer and producer.  Much of her work was done at home via the computer.

     Wouldn't it be nice if young mothers had more opportunities to use their job skills while still being able to care for their children? While it is unrealistic to expect all mothers to stay at home, it is also unrealistic to expect children to raise themselves.  The American family is going through a huge transition; let us hope that young moms like Kathy can find ways to keep it from being a thing of the past.

     Here's a recipe from Kathy's mother Laura, that is not only healthy (spinach is good for your eyes), but delicious on a hot summer day.

SPINACH SALAD

Ingredients:

• 1 bag fresh spinach
• 1 can bean sprouts
• 2 hard boiled eggs
• 5 slices bacon, fried or boiled
• Shred (or chop) ingredients into a a large salad bowl.

Then add the dressing:

• 1 cup oil
• -è cup white sugar
• -½ cup catsup
• -½ cup vinegar
• -salt to taste
• -1 medium onion chopped

* You can add fresh sliced mushrooms (shiitake are excellent) too.

Store in refrigerator

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