Paying Tribute to Moms Around the World: A Survey for Moms by a Mom

Hi, there! This survey is designed to aid in the research of finding out the major challenges and concerns along with the triumphs common to mothers--all mothers. I happen to be a mommy who works full time at a paid occupation, but have complete and TOTAL respect for mommies who stay at home with their children. I'm fortunate to know a diverse pool of moms who stay at home with their kids, and others who work part time at a paid job, or do what I do. Everyone respects each other. Making judgments about individual decisions has NO PLACE in my circle of friends OR this research. I am interested in finding solutions and empowering my sisters in motherhood. It has been my experience that two heads are better than one. So just imagine the impact of many heads! :-) So whether you fall into the category of paid employment, single mom, partnered mom, married mom, stay-at-home mom, young mom, mature mom, or any logical combination of the above, your voice very important. There are no right or wrong opinions. And your responses are 100% confidential. The only rules I ask that you follow is that you be respectful in your commentary. Ranting and raving is okay, so long as there are no ad hominem attacks toward a different lifestyle from yours in the process. The results will be compiled in an aggregated, anonymous form, like the outcome of a recipe comprised of many ingredients. A quote may stick out that moves me, and in that case, I would *paraphrase* the experience so no one is singled out. If you'd actually like to be quoted, we can talk further so that the context is appropriate before publishing. If you're interested in the report or would like to be quoted explicitly in at least one area, please email me at cdickson@power-edsolutionsinc.com. Thanks so much for participating!--Carol Dickson-Carr
 
1. Name (Last Name, First Name):
(completely optional)
 

2. E-mail (completely optional):
Understanding the fact that the amount of unwanted spam (is there any other kind?) is at an all-time high, we don't believe in selling or giving away the email addresses of our survey participants and clients. You are assured complete privacy.
 

3. Age group: *
 

4. Race/Ethnicity: *
 

Other (Besides the Human Race ;-)) Please type your answer below:
 

5. Educational Background: *
 

Other/or some combination of above (Please indicate below).
 

6. How many children (that includes adult children!) do you have? Please indicate ages and genders of each in a list below: *
 

7. Please select the choice that best describes your "role": *
 

7a. Let me describe my role below (because either none applied above, or a combination applied above):
 

8. If you get paid for the work you do (for an employer or self-employed; full time or part time, etc.), please indicate your occupation and/or briefly describe your duties:
 

9. From the following list, please choose the MOST pressing challenge for you PERSONALLY: *
This list will repeat itself three times as you will rank your second most pressing challenge and your third most pressing challenge.
  Having enough time to myself
  Balancing work and family
  Managing stress
  Finding adequate and/or affordable child care
  Desiring to stay home with my child/children, but not being in the position to
  Desiring to enter/re-enter the work force for whatever reasons, but feeling like I'm not in a position to
  Getting more help from their father in raising/caring for my child/children
  Enough PAID maternity leave
  Avoiding burnout
  Transitioning to a more fulfilling career
  Keeping up with household chores
  Being able to provide for my kid(s)
  Getting enough adult interaction
  None of the above (see below)

If none applied above, please fill in your MOST pressing challenge:
 

Would you like to elaborate on why you chose this as your PRIMARY challenge? If so, indicate your thoughts in the space provided below. Sometimes the choices are so close, that you might want to explain why one won out over the other even if by a tiny margin. And hey, sometimes it just feels really good to vent! ;-)
 

10. From the following list, please choose the SECOND most pressing challenge for you PERSONALLY: *
  Having enough time to myself
  Balancing work and family
  Managing stress
  Finding adequate and/or affordable child care
  Desiring to stay home with my child/children, but not being in the position to
  Desiring to enter/re-enter the work force for whatever reasons, but feeling like I'm not in a position to
  Getting more help from their father in raising/caring for my child/children
  Enough PAID maternity leave
  Avoiding burnout
  Transitioning to a more fulfilling career
  Keeping up with household chores
  Being able to provide for my kid(s)
  Getting enough adult interaction
  None of the above (see below)

If none applied above, please fill in your SECOND most pressing challenge:
 

Would you like to comment on why you chose your second most challenge? If so, please share below:
 

11. From the following list, please choose the THIRD most pressing challenge for you PERSONALLY: *
  Having enough time to myself
  Balancing work and family
  Managing stress
  Finding adequate and/or affordable child care
  Desiring to stay home with my child/children, but not being in the position to
  Desiring to enter/re-enter the work force for whatever reasons, but feeling like I'm not in a position to
  Getting more help from their father in raising/caring for my child/children
  Enough PAID maternity leave
  Avoiding burnout
  Transitioning to a more fulfilling career
  Keeping up with household chores
  Being able to provide for my kid(s)
  Getting enough adult interaction
  None of the above (see below)

If none applied above, please fill in your THIRD most pressing challenge:
 

Would you like to comment on why you chose your third most pressing challenge? If so, please share below:
 

12. Mommies tend to never stop worrying about their children to some extent, but some youth issues are hot buttons because you have seen things first hand. Please check four youth issues that apply for you (even if they may not apply now because they're either too young now, or you've already "been there and done that" with your children). Please LIMIT your choices to your top four. *
  Your child(ren)'s health
  Academic progress
  Having a healthy self-esteem
  Social development
  Peer pressure
  TV, Radio, and other media images that convey PG-13 or even R-rated material
  Drug abuse
  Date rape
  Teen pregnancy
  Alcohol abuse
  Your child(ren)'s money management
  Your children's safety
  None of the above (see below)

If you'd like to comment on why you chose the four you did, or if one or more issues among your TOP FOUR weren't shown above, please describe the issue(s) below, and comment if you like:
 

13. What mode of education has your child(ren) been exposed to. If your kids are too young, please check what you plan to try when they get older: *
(Check all that apply)
  Homeschooling
  Public school
  Private school
  Special education
  Mainstream education
  Montesourri
  None of the above

If applicable, please share your child(ren)'s educational experiences as it relates to the choices you checked above. Or if none applied from the choices above, please discuss it here:
 

If your kids are too young, and you checked what you may consider trying, please comment on why you chose the option(s) that you did in the space below:
 

14. Please describe one or some of your proudest moments with each of your kids. Shameless bragging is 100% okay. :)
 

15. Please describe one or some of YOUR proudest moments. I mean, YOU. The mommy. I've noticed in conversations that many say the best accomplishment is our kids. If that's true, talk about the next proudest moment (or moments) for you PERSONALLY. *
 

16. You've probably either lived in different areas in your life, or maybe your home town is your current town. What area or areas of the world would you call home, though?
 

17. What are your hobbies? Even if you haven't had the opportunity to pursue them recently, tell me what you really love to do (in addition to parenting, that is. ;-)).
 

18. Any closing comments you'd like to share?