Work at Home Grandmothers

We haven’t had a “featured grandmother” in quite a while, so it was wonderful to hear from Debbie Johnson today and have a chance to share her story with you.  I hope you enjoy reading it…oh, and if you would like to be featured, please write to me at claudiascorner[at]gmail.com.

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After receiving a legal secretarial degree from Bryant and Stratton and working at GE for engineers for six years, I quit to raise our two boys, born exactly one year and three weeks apart. (My husband said, “We’re not going to have your mom watch TWO, are we? Mind you, I was sobbing at the time as he went out the door with our oldest.)

Seven years later a third son arrived on the scene and I worked at a quaint little local restaurant an evening or two a week to bring in a little extra cash. (And, admittedly, to remind myself that I still could “process thoughts” – Oh, the stories I can tell!!)

I’m thankful to have been able to work around our family, but where does a closing-in-on-40 year old woman go to find a job? For me it was an Oral Surgery satellite office 20 minutes away which I managed for two doctors. They kindly allowed me the opportunity to work while updating my computer/office skills. Six years later, with one son in college, another a senior in high school and the third closing in on high school, I needed a full-time job to help with college expenses and high school extra-curricular activity bills. And that is how I ended up at a local business as a sales coordinator for nine years.vI know – trained for lawyers and worked for engineers, doctors and salesmen – nothing “relates”, does it?  Plus, nobody needs “secretaries” anymore – everyone does their own thing on computers! And, NOW I’m closing in on SIXTY!!

After we were blessed with 6 (yes, six!) grandchildren, with two more on the way, I left that job two years ago. In hindsight I am even more thankful because my father went to be with the Lord (and mom) this past Dec. 26.  These past two years were filled with many medical appointments for him that I am SO thankful I could do.  (I was thankful at the time, but even more so now!) I LOVE being with my grandchildren, but I’d also like to help my husband financially. Plus, they say our brains “go to mush” if we don’t use them.

Ameriplan®, USA, offers the chance for me to do it all. Yes, it’s network marketing and I’m learning, learning, learning – which is FUN! It’s VERY affordable to begin your own business. Plus, this company provides things I NEED in addition to a paycheck – discounts for dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic needs, as well as help with child ID, legal fees, medical expenses, identity theft (the fastest growing crime in America) and much more.

If you’d like to check out what this company has to offer, please visit one of my websites at:

www.freedomathometeam.com/DJohnson70 or

www.IBOPlus.com/DJohnson70 or

www.mybenefitsplus.com/DJohnson70 .

Or I’d love to hear from you via e-mail at DJohnson70@ameriplan.net or by phone at 716-355-4223.

We women need to STICK TOGETHER!! And we aren’t getting older, we’re GETTING BETTER!!

God Bless you all!

Debbie Johnson

Actually her name is not “SuccessGrand“, that’s the name of her blog. The author of the blog is Sandy McFerren, and she’s also a member of the Work at Home Grandmothers network - see the “widget” in the sidebar to jump over and pay a visit.

Sandy has been married about 20 years, and has at least 2 grandchildren. She has two children, a son and daughter…just like me:-)

Sandy shares personal insights and business ideas at her blog. Stop by and pay her a visit…her posts are great and maybe it will encourage her to share even more.  You’ll find a picture of her there with her grandchildren.

I made a discovery today while I was working/playing with a Squidoo lens. Do you know what Squidoo is? It’s another way of quickly and easily getting your “presence” out there on the web. You can make what they call a “lens”  about things that interest you, things you’re working on, just about anything you can think of. You can see what I have done if you visit my profile page on Squidoo.

One of the pages I did was “Find a Grandmother or Grandmothers on Twitter“.  Stop by for a visit and learn more about using hashtags (#) and which word, “Grandmother” or “Grandmothers” is the best search term.  I hope to add more helpful information, and perhaps more about how to use Squidoo to your benefit on this blog.

One of the fun things that work at home Grandmothers enjoy doing is taking some of that hard-earned money from your home business and shopping for your grandchildren.

Spring is here, and with season changes, the grandbabies are going to need some new cloths if you live in a place with season changes like we do…there are lots of places to buy cloths, but few as cute as a site I visited today, with a really unique selection of cloths.  I loved the site, it had such a fun feel to it, and their cloths were so different, funky and fun to look at, like the little romper pictured here…which is really such a small example.

There are a lot of items with pop-art on them, many brands that were new to me (but it’s been a while since I’ve shopped for a child) including the following:

• Ed Hardy Kids
• Misha Lulu
• Kingsley clothing
• Knuckleheads clothing
• kaos recycled
• Monster Republic
• Kids Ink
• Ooh La La Couture
• Joe’s Jeans Kids
• Christian Audigier clothing

You’ll find a lot of fun when you visit, including dress-up cloths, contemporary and funky outfits.  So if you want your grandchild or grandbaby to be a trendy little one, take a look at rsavenue.com.

Have you ever wondered whether people actually make money doing those online surveys? I have joined a few survey services, and like one in particular, I receive offers by email each day. It’s a nice site called “Inbox Dollars”, click the button to the right see what that’s all about, and though you won’t get rich quick, you can make a little side money. And of course, you realize, that these people work with affiliate sites and if you sign up for something, they make a bit of money, and give you a little bit of that money.

You should never have to pay someone to join a survey site. Some people put together lists of survey sites, then charge you $30 or more just to have access to it, maybe some think this is worth it, but I fell for this once, and it wasn’t worth it to me.

/Here is a review on doing surveys to make money. I hope you enjoy!

A Review of Home Survey Workers

By: Brian Garvin

Wow, the Home Survey Workers website is pretty flashy for a company that deals in surveys. So of course when we were asked to do this review we were interested in learning more about their system. Will it be what you need to make some sort of secondary income? Will you be able to turn it into something full time? We aren t sure yet, but we’ll definitely share with you what we found.

What Questions Do You Need Answered

Because the Home Survey Workers seem to have all the answers all within there F.A.Q. Let s face it, we re all skeptical anymore after those three years of constant scams on the Internet. Heck, even now with phishing schemes circling our email accounts everyone is taking a step back and being very careful with what they read and or purchase.

So this is why we find it to be a crucial part of your research because not only will you be able to view answers to all the questions in your head, but you ll also learn more about the company. While there are only ten total answers to each question, we found them all to be helpful and we believe you will as well. Long story short, just go over there and take five minutes to read it. You’ll thank us later.

Getting a Taste Before You Start

It doesn’t matter if it s the Home Survey Workers website or another survey deal, you always want to see an example. Why? Well, if a site is promising you $5 $25 for one survey don’t you want to know how long it’s going to be? We don’t think you would enjoy this income avenue if it took you an hour to get paid $5. However, you’ll find a sample of their surveys right under the sample section located at the top of the page.

Is It Really The Perfect Job?

Well it really depends on who you talk to, but if you could possibly make $423 a day, wouldn’t you be interested? We aren’t really sure how they came up with that actual amount, but there has to be some sort of reason behind it. Towards the bottom, left hand side of the home page the different avenues you can take to make money with the Home Survey Workers program.

Surveys, focus groups, online orders, product reviews, and movie trailers are all available once you become a member of their site. You may be wondering if this is going to cost you any upfront money and the answer is, no. Just give them your name and email address before hand to get the rest of the information about their program.

Our Overall Analysis

When you first get to their website you might sit there and think, Wow, they look reputable. Especially with the nice professionally designed web page. While this may be true, we really want you to focus on the information that’s given to you after you have provided an email and address. Only then will you find the true content that will help you decide if this is for you.

Author Resource: Let Internet Marketing Review Kings http://www.imreviewkings.com/cashgeneration.html Brian Garvin and Jeff West teach you more about Home Survey Workers at http://www.imreviewkings.com/recommends/homesurveyworkers.html.

Article From Selling With Articles

Here is a cute and VERY funny story written by friend and parenting expert, Pat Montgomery. You’ll see she’s also learning a lot about Grandparenting, too.

After you read this delightful story, please be sure to visit her sites through the links below. She has a great radio show and a book available through any book seller and her website.

GRANDMA NEEDS TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

This week I babysat two of the grandkids (ages 1 1/2 and almost 3), which is challenging in itself. Add to that me trying to make some business calls and it was a very full day.

After his nap the older one, who is not potty trained, was dry so I asked if he wanted to go potty. Telling me NO, he ran into the other room. Not willing to give up, I followed him and commenced a discussion about “big boy pants”. He asked if Uncle Mike wore big boy pants. I said yes. Then he asked if Mommy wore big boy pants to which I, of course, said yes.

He ran (Benton never walks anywhere…he either rides or runs) to the cabinet and pulled out a pair of Lightning McQueen big boy pants. Patiently I explained that he had to pee in the potty before he could wear them. Finally I had victory. He crawled up on the potty and peed. Yea, I was so good. Silently I congratulated myself at how clever I had been.

That was when he asked for toilet paper. I wanted to encourage him so I handed him a couple of squares of toilet paper. Holding them in his small hand, he looked at me as if to ask what he was supposed to do with the paper. Immediately, I told him to wipe his pee-pee (what I called my boys’ penises at that age.)

Again he looked at me with a funny look on his face, which should have clued me in to a problem. Before I realized what was happening, he reached into the water and started wiping where his body fluids had just changed the toilet water yellow. Yes, he was doing exactly what I told him to do–wiping the pee-pee.

Pat Montgomery

Please take a moment to visit Parent’s Rule with Pat

Be sure to listen to Parents Rule! every Thursday 2-3 pm on 1620 AM at http://www.radiosandysprings.com/

“Now You Know What I Know What I Know: Parenting Wisdom of a Grandmother” available on my website or any book seller.”

School will be starting soon, and it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about how to encourage your children as they raise your grandchildren with some helpful advise from Marilyn Barnicke Bellegham, M.Ed, see her links at the end of the post. Thanks, Marilyn!!

You Can’t Stop School Bullies Until You

Stop Adults Who Teach Them How

Children who are bullied need to know they are not the problem. Bullying is about the bully needing to feel powerful. They believe their wants are more important than anyone else’s. They have learned to be abusers.

Bullying always involves:

• Intimidation through specific tactics meant to instill fear
• Threats of emotional, physical and psychological harm
• Discrimination by accusing the victim of being inferior or wrong
• Isolation of the victim from others who may give support.

We must help the victims.  This can be done by:

• Listening to their stories of life at school
• Watching for changes in behavior, especially from happy to fearful
• Observing their play and listening to how they interact with others
• Asking about any indications that hint at being afraid or avoiding people or places.

You are looking for:

• fear of the school yard,
• anxiety about who will be in their class
• talk of having no friends,
• worry about their teacher’s treatment of them and in general a focus on feeling safe rather than excited to be able to learn and grow.
• Watching the way they talk to and about other children.
• Observing the way their parents speak to them.
• Look at who their friends are and the interaction between them.
• Paying attention to the types of games they play and TV programs they prefer.

Signs include belittling and name calling, talk of “getting” other people, a superior attitude with lack of care and empathy for others and forming groups where the group acts aggressively against siblings, younger children or members of a race, religion or sexual orientation. Bullies often present as confident and popular so people believe they are not the cause of the problem.

Parents must hold school officials accountable to stop abusive behavior on the school yard and in the classroom. The first place to look is at the principals and teachers who bully students.

Every school year parents work to keep their children out of certain teacher’s classes because those teachers are bullies. It is often the parents who are least involved in their children’s lives whose children get the abusive teachers.

Too often children are seen as the problem, their aches and pains and reluctance to go to school are looked at but not the classroom environment.

• Parents can work together.
• Get supportive people to work as a group to hold bullies accountable.
• Avoid TV programs that show bullies in action.
• Be Self aware of tactics you may use to get your way
• Watch the way others speak to your child and confront abuse.

People who bully are usually going about their lives confident that the victim’s physical and emotional reactions were because they are too sensitive, not mentally well and author of their own misfortune.

Bullies have usually been bullied. They are afraid of appearing weak or fearful. They need to tell their story of who has bullied them and how that behavior has influenced their life to break the chain. It may be a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, neighbor, role model on television, religious leader or teacher. Legal tactics include bullying as do many other forms of business interaction. Many workplaces are filled with bullies. War is bullying to the extreme.

There are lifelong repercussions of bullying that effect the way a person functions in their home and in society. Bullying causes a loss in self confidence, hinders achievement, disrupts routines, brings fear into the lives of parents and children, prevents parents from protecting their children out of their own fear and leads to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Accountability involves forgiveness. Bullies need to:

• Hear the impact of their behavior on their victim
• Be willing to accept responsibility for the harm they have done
• Compensate the victim
• Apologize

Society must evolve to a point where bullies are held accountable and their behavior is seen as unacceptable if we are to ever live in peace as people, nations and globally.

Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem M.Ed is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist who consults to families in business on relationship issues including bullying. She is author of books on personal growth through travel. Questing Home: A Safe Place for My Holy Grail is her third book and is about Marilyn’s experience of being bullied by her former husband, his lawyer and others as she went through the process of divorce.

I just received the following email from another WAHG sharing a bit about herself, her grandchildren, and her business. Enjoy!

Just read your blog. This is the first I’ve ever seen WAHG but I love it! And the beautiful photo on your blog.

I am a mom of 4 ages 29, 26 , 16 and 13 and a “Gigi” to my 2 grandchildren ages 12 and 5. I have been married to my second husband Roger for almost 18 years. My first husband died in a car accident 20 years ago.

I just was riding in the car with my 5 year granddaughter, Shayla, today and she said “Gigi, I love you so much”. I said “I love you, too, Shayla, you are the sweetest girl on earth.” She replied” You’re right, I AM the sweetest girl on earth”. Don’t you love the innocence and pure truth in a child?

I have been fortunate to work part-time or be in my own network marketing or direct sales business for the past 20+ years so that I could have the freedom to spend time with my children and grandchildren, my husband and my friends. They are what matters most in my life, along with my relationship with Jesus. Money is just the way to pay the bills and have the freedom and ability to do the things I want with those precious in my life. It was important to me to be a mom who could go on my children’s school field trips and be homeroom mom for holiday parties.

One of our favorite traditions is a trip to North Myrtle Beach with all my children and grandchildren and even last year, the great grandmas. We love to share one big condo and all wake as we want, leisurely make our way to the beach or pool, take turns cooking dinner, go play miniature golf and maybe take one “tourist” trip somewhere together. It’s like a little bit of heaven on earth.

I LOVE to read so that is one of my favorite pastimes at the beach also. I have a book in just about every room of my house, as well as in my car, ready for when I have to wait in the car for some reason. One of my dreams is to write a book and I believe it won’t be long before I reach that goal.

My business is as an independent distributor for Mia Bella Gourmet Candles. I have been as avid candle lover for most of my adult life. I always have them burning when company is expected, to relax in the evenings, to reduce odors in the bathroom and kitchen, to chase away gloomy days and chilly evenings. I have preferred jar candles for the past 10 years because they can be burned a short period or for hours on end and the flame is contained. But I hated the black soot that would gather on the sides of the jar and unfortunately, often on my walls, too. So, I was delighted when I discovered Mia Bella candle jars which burn virtually soot free. First I signed up just to buy the candles at wholesale but it wasn’t long until I realized this was the business for me now.

I just returned from our national conference and was so impressed with the integrity, love of people and warmth of our three company owners (one the candle developer, one the business leader, one the financial leader) and the leaders in our company. It is a debt-free company and just hitting year 6 so there is so much potential. I feel very blessed to be doing something I love, keeping my home beautiful and sweet-smelling, and building my business to financial freedom and more time to be a “Gigi”.

Karen SR in PA
Light Up Your World
Do you LOVE Candles? Sign up to get yours at wholesale prices

Best Performing, Cleanest Burning Scented Candle in the world.