Today, my baby turns 7 years old. It’s the first birthday he has had without me by his side. Since Michael will not even let me contact the kids, I do not know anything about how his special day has gone.

I spent $40 and had presents sent to Michael’s house for Evan. I don’t know if he’ll get them, or if they will tell him the gifts are from me. I don’t even know if he likes the things I picked out just for him.

Needless to say, it’s an emotional day for me. Lots of crying, lots of raging, lots of shaking my fists in the air. Divorce is hard, but when it gets this nasty it becomes pure hell.

Hug your babies tight for me today, and send happy birthday wishes through the air to my little man who is growing up far too fast.

photo credit: DaizyB

If you’re a mom working outside the home, chances are you’re familiar with working mom’s guilt. Missing events like the first word, soccer games, and helping with homework can add up to a lot of negative feelings over the years. It’s important to remember, though, that not only are these emotions completely normal, but a working mother’s role is incredibly important to every member of the family, including your child.

It’s important for you—and your child—to understand exactly why you’re working instead of staying at home. Hopefully, you love your job. Your salary helps make possible certain activities and privileges for your child. Especially in this economic climate, it’s extremely difficult to re-enter the job market after taking years off to raise a family. Trust yourself and your reasons for staying at work. If it helps, write them down on a list to pull out anytime guilt strikes. Be open with your children about why you don’t always have a lot of time to spend with them, but make sure they know that you are always there for them and your time together is so important to you.

Unfortunately, sometimes guilt comes from an outside source (experience indicates it’s usually an in-law). If you can, simply avoid people that make you feel uncomfortable about your choice. If you can’t, put the comment in perspective. An older woman may have raised her children in a different social environment; she might even feel bitter about giving up her own career or being dependent on her partner for money. Most people who make these comments won’t recognize or don’t share your reasons for remaining at work. If you want to confront the issue, calmly share your list with them, and it might diffuse the speaker’s impulse to comment.

Take advantage of the time you do have and go the extra mile for your child. Every once in a while, set aside a weekend day with no other obligations as “Mommy and me” time. Plan activities you can both enjoy, or let an older kid plan a special day for the two of you. If you can’t manage a whole day, set aside an evening or two a week. If your child stays home sick, have a movie marathon together instead of leaving them alone in bed.

It might sound simple, but the most important thing to realize is that working away from home does not in any way diminish your capacity to be a mother. Every parent, whether they stay at home or not, faces challenges. You are working to support the lifestyle that your kid will grow up in, and even if it’s sometimes hard to believe, they will understand and appreciate that.

Margaux Cameron is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and writes about online college for Guide to Online Schools.

OK, so you’ve parred down your stuff, got it organized, and started the battle over personal space. Now, what about keeping those kids educated?

photo credit: dcJohn

Not all, but many people who RV with their kids lean towards homeschooling This is especially good when you travel frequently, making a public or private school option out of the question. With limited space, it may seem that homeschooling in an RV is especially difficult. Thankfully, that is not the case.

No matter where you are, there are likely to be plenty of resources at your disposal. Can you get online? Is there a public library? Are their places you can explore nearby? If you can hit a museum or an aquarium, then swing by the local library to learn more then you can homeschool.

I am a book addict, so a lot of my space is taken up with books. Having a huge selection of reading material makes homeschooling a lot easier. Of course, we also have a library and a friend with a huge wall of books that my kids can dig through. There are libraries, and free WiFi here that I can also use to their full advantage.

Our homeschool style is more relaxed than some people prefer, but that does not mean it is the only way. There are a variety of homeschooling styles that work well on the road. Some public school systems have virtual options, and there are many online programs that allow kids of all ages to take classes from their computers. Sites such as K12 and Time For Learning are two good examples of this.

Other styles are also compatible with life on the road. If you will be traveling often, a literature based style will be great as there is always time to read a few good books. If you have a kitchen table and a mailing address, you can do workbook style homeschooling.

The only downside I have found, at least for me, is the popular lapbooking and notebooking styles. Simply because space is limited, you can fill up an entire shelf in a few weeks and find yourself running out of room. But I am willing to bet that where there is a will, there is a way.

Of course, families do not have to try homeschooling just because they live in an RV. Some travel only during the summer months and breaks to keep their kids in one school. Some park at an RV Park near a local school district they enjoy and use it to it’s full advantage. There is no reason why life in an RV means anything less than what works for you.