Nov. 10, 1999
Career women often find it difficult to stay home with their children after years of laboring in the workforce.
But some Utah moms have found a group that helps them adjust to working at home, instead of the office.
For more than 15 years, Maria Nina Montalbano worked in banking, health care, and music.
But when she married, had two kids and quit working, she had no idea she would feel alienated from other adults and unappreciated.
MariaNina Montalbano: "The adjustment of having to put these little guys first. It was hard. Not ever getting to read a book that wasn't two words long."
But Montalbano and other Utah mothers are finding help with a support group for working women who now stay home full-time.
Mary Birt started a Salt Lake Chapter of FEMALE - Formerly Employed Mothers at the Leading Edge - a few years ago when she quit her job, and she and her family moved to Utah.
Mary Birt: "It gave the sense of feeling comfortable at home. It was hard for me to adjust to being at home."
The women in the Sandy chapter - which now numbers more than 100 - worked in management, counseling, human resources, advertising.
Bridget Stohl worked in travel before she had her two daughters.
Now she and the other moms find relief with play groups, co-op baby-sitting, group meetings, moms' night out.
MariaNina Montalbano: "I felt really isolated and FEMALE really filled the gap. There were women I could talk to and women who were going through the same thing I was going through."
Bridgette Stohl: "If your child has got chicken pox and you've never had that before, there's somebody there who has, who can help you."
For more information on the FEMALE support group Click here
or call the Family Now information line at 1-800-575-5751.
