Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 October 2004 — Page 26

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Plan B(aby): Stay-at-home trend growing

(FeatureSouroe) — You haveajob. You have a baby. Afteryour parental leave is up, you find day care for your baby so you can go back to your job. That’s “Plan A” and it’s what everyone does, right? Well, not exactly. “Plan ITstaying at home with your child— is a growing trend. While many parents return to their jobs for personal or financial reasons, others find a way to stay home for a few months, a few years or indefinitely. A 2001 report by the U.S. Census Bureau states that in 1998, 59 percent of mothers with infants worked full time. By 2000, only 55 percent of mothers with infants worked full time. And it’s not just moms with babies staying home. Today’s twoparent families are exploring alternatives to the full-time, stay-at-home mom. Dads are staying home in some families, especially when mom earns more money or has a more promising career. In other families, both parents work flexible schedules so the children are almost always in the care of one parent. And some parents of preteens are opting out of the workforce to reconnect with their young adolescents. When making a child care decision, these are the key considerations to make: Income - can you live on less? Some parents wisely work out the books to see if they can accommodate a reduced-income budget. Kate and Dave, parents of two in San Francisco, tried living only on Dave’s income for several months before they had kids to make sure it worked. Another advantage: they saved Kate’s salary for a rainy day. Career - are you willing and able to step off die career track? And if so, how can you keep your “finger in the pie"as a Bellingham, Wash., lawyer, put it? She decided to stay home with her three children for a few years but volunteers on a local government committee and does part-time consulting from home. Gender - for moms: Are you comfortable with a "traditional" gender role of mom-at-home? For dads: Can you break the mold of dad-the-breadwinner and become dad-the-caregiver? For both: What kind of support do you need from your spouse in terms of personal time, housework and childcare? Personality - would the pace of life athome—naps, repetition and routine—satisfy you? Would you miss adult interaction too much? Some parents report that they enjoy at-home parenting much more than they ever imagined and wouldn’t trade the home 7.one for anything. The reverse is true for others. Daycare - what child care options are available and affordable? Shonda, a mother-of-two in Columbus, Ohio, is confident about her decision to return to work in part because her children are enrolled in an ideal day care situation. Available through her employer, her day care is close to her office and staffed by universitytrained child development specialists. But many parents question the reliability of daycare options or simply don’t want to deal with the added stress and expense of the day care routine. Overtime, any one of these key factors can shift, causing parents to reevaluate their decisions. Deciding whether to stay home and who should stay home is both an emotional and a financial costbenefit analysis. There is nosingle solution to this puzzle; each family must strategize about what works best within the context of its own particular needs and circumstances.

Community Service * Marriage Announcements • Social Clubs PeopleBTrends Gourmet Gents' to show off cooking skills 100 Black Women raising funds for Academy for Girls

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Stanley Warren (left) Is shown with Assitant Deputy Mayor of Neighborhoods Eugene Anderson during last year's Gourmet Gents event.

Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer (left) prepares his special lasagna with Bruce Henry of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership at the 2003 event. (Photos/C. Guynn)

By DONNEE PADGETT Recorder Intern

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Indianapolis Chapter Inc. will host its 10 <h annual “Gourmet Gents 2004” on Oct. 30 at 7 p m. at the Montague at Allison Pointe. According to Colleen Bolden Smith, president for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, this event is a fund raiser for one of their programs. “The goal of this event is to raise funds for the Academy for Girls,” Smith said. Established in October 1994, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Acad-

emy for Girls program assists in the development of young Black women who can benefit from exposure and interaction with Afri-can-American role models. The program is designed for high school students between the ages of 14 and 17 years old. According to Smith, the program originated at Arlington High School, however, the program is not limited just to girls from Arlington. “It is open to girls from other schools.” Smith said. The Academy for Girls’ goal is to immerse girls in a variety of cultural, social, and educational experiences and to provide tools to assist in a career selection, community service, financial literacy, and business and social etiquette.

The Academy for Girls is just one of the programs the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Indianapolis Chapter sponsors to better the lives of women of color. Founded in 1981, the Indianapolis chapter focuses on the development of socially conscious female leaders who are committed to furthering equity and empowerment for women of color in the society-at-large, improving the environment of their neighborhoods, rebuilding, j their communities and enhancing the quality of public and private resources for the growth and development of disadvantaged youths. “Our mission is of leadership development, gender equity, and advocacy on behalf of women of color,” Smith said. Another event that the organization sponsors is “Break Through Woman,” a summer event that honors five women of the community in five areas - economic development, personal and professional development, education and community affairs. .The theme for this year’s “Gourmet Gents 2004" is “Masquerade al la Montage” and the challengers are: • Dr. Everett Freeman • James Price, the owner and operator of McDonald’s • Dennis Ryerson, editor and vice president of the Indianapolis Star • Roderick Bohan nan •Willis K. Bright Jr., Eli Lilly • Dennis Bland, the executive director for the Center for Leadership Development According to Leisa Richardson, a member of the coalition, there will be a wide range of dishes that each challenger has chosen to prepare. “There will be all kinds of foods from gourmet to simple,” said Richardson. The evening also includes entertainment by Protocol and a silent auction.

Tieketsforthe ‘Gourmet Gents' event are $40. For more information contact Dorothy Oldham at (317) 2594104

Eugene Anderson (right), assistant deputy mayor of neighborhoods for the Office of the Mayor introduces State Rep. Carotene Mays (D-Indianapolis) during a campaign fundraiser held last week in her honor at Peyton's Place.

Darnell Jemison hangs up a campaign sign to encourage voters to re-elect Mays.

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Diane Montgomery, a contributor to Mays' campaign, reads a copy of The Indianapolis Recorder during the event.

Masimba Rusununguko (left), teacher at Warren Central High School, paints Ayana Ivey's face as a means to raise funds for Warren Central's trip to Greece and Italy during the Glendale Mall Community Day.

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During the event, Helen Lands, executive director of Crooked Creek Multi Service Center, discusses her program's services. (Photos/J. Hurst)

Event coordinators and contributors, (left to right) Georgette Smith, Lisa Shoemake, Cherril Threte, and Jeana Marie Lewis Ouattara. (Photos/J. Hurst)