Help on the way for working moms

CLAIRE KNAPP, Recorder Newspapers, December 8, 2004

RANDOLPH TWP – A new group has been formed to help mothers who are busy in the home and those who also have to earn a living in the workplace.

The National Organization of Women (NOW), Morris County Chapter, has initiated the new program called “Mothering NOW” that focuses on the problems of modern motherhood.

"We feel the act of being a mother, being an unpaid caregiver, is actually a job," Laurie Pettine, one of the program’s organizers, said on Oct. 26. "Mothering has been sentimentalized to the point that the amount of work involved is often overlooked."

Susan Waldman, 62, of Randolph Township, has been active with NOW since the mid-1980s. Although her own children are grown, Waldman said she fully supports her chapter’s program to support moms, whether they are out in the workforce or working at home.

"The younger women in our group have really become gung ho about this program," said Waldman.

The mothering program, created by NOW members Laurie Pettine, Stacey Gregg, Beth Sparacino, and Mavra Stark, took root after Stark had arranged for author Ann Crittenden to be interviewed on the chapter’s public access television program several years ago. Crittenden had written a successful book, "The Price of Motherhood," which showed how stay at home moms are often penalized because they do not earn social security credits and are too financially dependent on their husbands.

"For years the perception was that NOW hated mothers because they were focusing so strongly on opening the workplace to women," said Waldman. "But that was never true. We also cared about mothers. Most of us are mothers. This program focuses specifically on the needs of mothers."

Mothering NOW will focus on issues that are important to moms who work outside the home or within. Each meeting will have a speaker or workshop that addresses issues such as affordable child care, pre-kindergarten education, paid family leave, and seeking a national health plan.

"This is an innovation of our Morris County NOW Chapter," said Waldman. "I haven’t heard of anything like it elsewhere."

Waldman said she was particularly excited about the new program because she had attended the state conference of NOW held earlier that day at the former home of suffragist Alice Paul in southern New Jersey.

"Alice Paul was born in 1885," said Waldman. "In her fight for women’s right to vote she was one of the suffragists who were force fed. She was still very active when women won the right to vote in 1921, and is also the author of the Equal Rights Amendment."

Members from the Morris County Chapter of NOW, including Waldman, presented their plan for Mothering Now at the state conference. "We had a workshop, after which they passed a resolution recognizing the need for this type of program," said Waldman. "NOW New Jersey is now turning its focus to the largest population in the state – women who are mothers."

Waldman said the state organization is developing an economic rights task force to help mothers and will urge the national organization to establish a national task force. NOW’s next annual conference will be held in July 2005 in Nashville, Tenn., and Waldman is looking forward to it with enthusiasm.

"This will be my first national conference," said Waldman. "I’m looking forward to helping our Mothering Now program expand beyond Morris County. Because of NOW I have done things I never thought I could. I’ve even testified before state legislative committees on women’s issues. I wasn’t an activist in my youth. It came to me later in life. I was motivated to join now because I am very pro-choice, but NOW is not a one-issue organization."

"Anything that’s good for women is good for families – and men," said Waldman. "If you’re a husband, and your wife is working hard but making less than a man, the husband’s pocketbook is also hurting."

Mothering NOW meets at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., two Fridays each month, normally on the second and fourth Fridays, at the Watnong Park Community Building on Grannis Avenue in Morris Plains.

Because of the holidays in November and December, they will meet on the second and third Fridays, Nov. 12 and 19, and Dec. 10 and 17.

Moms can join group discussions on issues of motherhood and women’s rights, develop friendships with other mothers of young children, and hear guest speakers, authors, politicians and experts on issues important to moms.

The Mother Now Book Club features suggested readings on the economics of motherhood, mothers’ health issues and the act of being a feminist mom.

Kids are welcomed to the meetings and on-site childcare is available.

A special program is being planned for the 1 p.m. meeting on Friday, Nov. 19 when the first annual Thinking Moms’ Book Fair will be held. Pam Sheldrick, owner of the Pandora Book Peddlers in Madison, will discuss the latest feminist books for moms and kids.

For more information or directions, call (973) 285-1200, send e-mail to morrismothernow@yahoo.com, or visit the website at erights4all.com/now/morriscounty.

©Recorder Newspapers 2005