Mom Makes Guide For Stay-At-Home Moms

HometownAnnapolis.com:

Melissa Stanton never set out to be a stay-at-home mother.

It just sort of happened as the result of a confluence of events — her husband taking an out-of-state job, her own long commute to a high-pressure New York magazine editing job, and the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

‘I woke up one day and said, ‘You know what? That’s it. I need to live a different life,’?’ she said.

Ms. Stanton, who now lives in Davidsonville, admits she didn’t know quite what she was getting into when she left the workforce. But she’s gained a lot of experience and is determined to pass it on to other women.

Her book, ‘The Stay-at-Home Survival Guide: Field-Tested Strategies for Staying Smart, Sane, and Connected While Caring for Your Kids,’ came out June 1. It packs plenty of advice for moms who may be feeling a bit isolated and under-appreciated in their new roles.

Ms. Stanton, 43, consulted with about 100 stay-at-home mothers and surveyed more than 60 in detail to gain a broad perspective for the book.

‘It’s easy to see women out in the world who seem super happy and content, but I’m not one of them,’ said Annapolis stay-at-home mom Jessa Aubin, who has an e-mail included in the book. ‘It’s not a hidden secret (that stay-at-home moms aren’t happy every second of the day), but it’s nice to have a book like this for support.’