With kids back in school, this is the time of year that many mothers think about going back to work, or "relaunching" their careers as we call it; this year perhaps more than ever before. Although the job market is tight, we've heard from relaunchers all over the country who have found (or created) opportunities in this market, despite the difficult economy. I've been wondering . . . what distinguishes these women from other stay-at-home moms seeking to return to work? Are they extremely brilliant or well-connected? Although some of the women we've heard from do fall into these categories, the majority are regular folks whose qualifications are not particularly extraordinary. But they all shared one important trait: a strong desire to return to paid work, not just a need, not just a whim, but a deep, compelling drive to "get back in the game." How can you tell if you have that kind of commitment? Take Part I of our Relaunch Readiness Quiz to measure your motivation:

I miss working . . .

Not at all Somewhat A lot

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

For the time being, I am very happy being a stay-at-home mother.

Agree strongly Agree somewhat Disagree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I have a hobby or volunteer work that substantively engages me.

Agree strongly Agree somewhat Disagree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I could see myself going back to work in _______ years
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(Circle the number in the second row below the answer you choose in the first row.)

The average number of hours per week that I would be willing and able to spend working is . . .
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 40+
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(Circle the number in the second row below the answer you choose in the first row.)

Our family could materially benefit from my earning money. Disagree strongly Agree somewhat Agree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Add up all the numbers you circled. This is your score _______________

Interpretation of Scoring

If you score 45 or above, you have a strong desire to relaunch. Your family's financial need may be a major factor, but you also genuinely enjoy working and/or you're bored at home. With this level of drive, you should be willing to invest the time and energy to conduct a strategic and methodical job search or take steps toward securing consulting work or start your own business.

If your score falls between 30 and 45, you currently have a moderate appetite for work. You may get lucky and fall into an opportunity, depending on your experience and contacts; or you may develop a passion for something (whether volunteer or paid) that eventually leads to earning an income, but to secure employment in a competitive corporate environment you'll need to kick up your ambition a notch to communicate the necessary energy and drive.

If you score less than 30, you're not very motivated to return to work at this time. Consider investing more time in your hobbies and volunteer work, particularly those that might open up career options for you later. Also, use this time to explore what might interest you when you're ready to go back to work in the future. If you scored high on question 6 but low on everything else, you need to try to develop a more positive view of work or pursue only those positions that do not demand much intellectual or emotional commitment.

For parts II and III of the Relaunch Readiness Quiz, visit www.iRelaunchcom.

Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the co-authors of the acclaimed career reentry book Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work , and the co-founders of iRelaunch, the nation's leading provider of career reentry programming. Carol and Vivian can be reached at info@iRelaunch.com or follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/iRelaunch.

GUEST POST by NY Working Moms Examiner Amy Impellizzeri.

At iRelaunch's "Career Relaunch Forum" held at Seton Hall University last week, co-founders, Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin, delivered one powerful message to the nearly sold-out crowd of 150+ attendees: YOU can relaunch your professional career after a hiatus at home.

No matter if headhunters dismiss you.

No matter why you left in the first place.

No matter how long the hiatus.

The Career Relaunch Forum was an intensive day jam-packed with presentations from actual relaunchers, Q&A sessions, as well as networking opportunities and presentations by employer sponsors (including Accenture, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Goldman Sachs, MomCorps, Bloomberg, MIT Professional Education, Hooray For Books, Deutsche Bank, Tyco, Credit Suisse, and MyWorkButterfly.com). (For a complete list of event sponsors, click here.)

The presentations and break-out sessions left attendees that I spoke with feeling "motivated" "encouraged" and "optimistic."

Cohen and Rabin are passionate about the subject of relaunching and, having relaunched their own careers after 11 and 7 year hiatuses, respectively, bring tremendous credibility to the subject. The authors of Back on the Career Track have made the study of relaunchers an art form, focusing on, and in their words, "trumpeting success stories", in order to both encourage would-be relaunchers and also to educate potential employers about the benefits of hiring relaunchers. (Reduced probability of maternity leaves, reduced spousal re-locations, and the benefits of mature perspective, being just a few of the advantages touted by Cohen and Rabin that separate relaunchers from the rest of the candidate pool.)

But according to Cohen and Rabin - presenting on the issue for the 82nd time last week - the single most important character trait that separates would-be relaunchers from the rest of the workforce is the trait that was palpable in the room at the Career Relaunch Forum: enthusiasm. Would-be relaunchers are anxious and eager to get back to the workforce once they make that decision. As one attendee told me, "I had lunch with a former colleague recently and he told me, 'you know why you're going to be successful now? Because you WANT to work. We [all of us that have stayed in the industry continuously while you've been gone] are tired and looking to get OUT."

Of course, relaunching is not just for moms, and neither is iRelaunch. About 10% of the attendees at last week's Career Relaunch Forum were male, and one male attendee pointed out, "This information is just as relevant for me as it is for all the moms here. I'm so glad I came."

For FOX NEWS television coverage of the October 29 Career Relaunch Forum, click here.

For more about iRelaunch, check out their website here.

Direct Link to Amy Impellizzeri's examiner.com article, click here.

Several weeks ago, my iRelaunch co-founder Carol Cohen wrote a blog about nurses returning to work after a career break. For some reason, the blog unleashed a torrent of comments, mostly from young nurses complaining about old nurses or old nurses complaining about young nurses. While reading the comments trashing "the older generation," I couldn't help but reflect on the wisdom I have gained from my father, an 84--year-old businessman who is still working and thriving. So, without further ado, I present five lessons from my father.

1. They can't pay you enough to do something you hate doing. Don't get me wrong. My father enjoys making money and has been quite successful at it, but whenever I was trying to make decisions about my career, he always encouraged me to choose the option most in line with my interests, strengths and values.

2. When negotiating with a person or an institution, don't feel you've got to get it all resolved NOW. You'll often do better if you let the talks run their course. I remember my first real negotiation. I was trying to get a major lender to extend financing for an acquisition. The lender was one of those real "tough guys" who loved making people squirm. He would keep threatening me saying "if you guys don't put this provision in, we're walking." I'd call my father and say "Dad, what do I do?" And my father would say, "you don't have to answer him right now. Just keep moving along. Don't feel like you have to address this particular point today. Talk about other provisions on which you can agree." This was difficult but important advice for me to accept. By nature, I hate waiting and uncertainty. But this strategy has proved so powerful in so many situations that I simply put myself into "Dad negotiating mode" whenever necessary and prepare myself to hunker down and wait it out.

3. To be successful in business, sometimes it's a matter of outlasting the competition. Again, this advice ran counter to my nature. I was used to quick results and quick success. And earlier in my life I often bailed out of promising ventures a year or two too soon. Now I see that it takes years to build a name and a reputation, and if you take the time to do so you could end up outshining your flash-in-the-pan competitors.

4. Be open but focused. My father has taught me this more by example than by word. I've seen him seize on opportunities that he came across almost randomly, but they always built upon the core of his business. So while he was opportunistic, he never seemed to be "all over the place." I keep this in mind as Carol and I bump into potential ideas and business partners. We ask ourselves: does this person or organization fit with our general direction and goals or is it more peripheral?

5. At the end of the day, all you've really got is your reputation. My father learned this himself--the hard way. He was definitely cocky and overconfident early in his career. He occasionally burned bridges and let his pride get in the way. But as he aged he mellowed. He learned to fully value developing and preserving relationships. He's grown from being a "young buck" into an elder statesman, with all the diplomatic skills that implies. I only hope I'll have at least half the name he has.

Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the co-authors of the acclaimed career reentry book Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work, and the co-founders of iRelaunch, a company that produces career reentry programs, events, and content for employers, universities, organizations and individuals. Download our webinar on LinkedInfor Beginners. If you're on career break in the Tri-State area, register for our Career Relaunch Forum October 29, 2009 at Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. Carol and Vivian can be reached at info@iRelaunch.com or follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/iRelaunch.

Q: What things should I NOT include on my resume?

A: A good resume needs to be crafted with great consideration, and should be a strong representation of the candidate that you are. YOU are the expert on YOU and a resume is your opportunity to highlight your professional strengths for a prospective employer. A strong resume is an enticing synopsis of the professional experience and related qualifications that you bring to the table. It should tell just enough to make the reader want to learn more and thus call you for an interview. There are several items, however, that your resume should NOT include:

(1) Personal details and photographs - Do not include any information about your height, weight, age, marital status, children or other detail that might elicit subconscious discrimination from the person reading your resume. Do not ever include a photograph of yourself unless it is a mandatory qualification for the job, like at a modeling agency.

(2) Hobbies – What you do for fun outside of work is your business. It should have no bearing on your perceived ability to do a job. Do not waste valuable space on your resume with this information.

(3) Clubs, organizations and volunteer work NOT related to your industry or profession – These activities, if not work-related, should have no bearing on your abilities to do the job, so don't mention them. The only exception might be for very recent graduates who may have held leadership roles in college clubs or organizations. This information may be more applicable for them considering the absence of more extensive work experience. If you are more than a few years out of school, leave it off.

(4) Religious and Political affiliations – Although your religious and political involvement outside of work may be an enormously important part of your life, it has nothing to do with your ability to successfully fulfill the expectations of a job. It may not be fair, but if you share it on the resume, you are leaving yourself open to be prejudged and possibly eliminated from the candidate pool based on someone else's bias. Unless you are applying for a job at a campaign headquarters or a religious organization, do not include this very personal information.

(5) Your "Objective" – It may seem counter-intuitive to leave this off, but the statement of a specific Objective can be very limiting. A better use of space is to write a 5-8 sentence "Summary of Qualifications" that highlights your professional assets. Summarize your best qualities as a candidate right at the top of the resume and entice the hiring manager to read on.

When in doubt, the best way to determine what information to share with a potential employer is to ask yourself this question, "Does this information have anything to do with my professional background or my ability to do this job?" If not, then leave it off and save the room for something that will distinguish you professionally from another candidate. After you get the job, based on the merits of your professional background, there will be plenty of time to get to know the people in your office and to share more about your interests outside of work. Let your resume sell why you are a great candidate you are for the position. Market only your professional strengths and leave the personal information out.

Hannah Morris is the owner of HBM Human Resources & Career Consulting based in Charleston, SC. She has 15 years of experience in Human Resources management, recruiting and career counseling. Additionally she is the owner of Pots & Petals, a gardening business that she has started while being a stay-at-home mom.

Mom Corps has joined forces with Maid Brigade to help busy working moms around the house. After all, busy working moms can't "do it all" without a little bit of help! The partnership is first and foremost about helping our subscribers achieve work/life balance. How Do YOU Manage Career and Housework?

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Mom Corps looked at a wide array of house cleaning services before selecting Maid Brigade as our recommended premium house cleaning services partner. In the end, we selected Maid Brigade because their brand embodies the same integrity and commitment to their clients that we foster at Mom Corps. Our CEO, Allison O'Kelly sums it up, "We're impressed with what Maid Brigade has done with green cleaning – it speaks volumes about their brand."

Work/Life Balance Is Easier with Outside Cleaning Help

Maid Brigade facilitates work/life balance for working women by giving them back what is arguably their most precious commodity – time. But this particular house cleaning company has more to offer than just alleviating your housework load. Maid Brigade pioneered the green cleaning movement in the house cleaning industry and is the leader in cleaning for health. Green Clean Certified® is the company's signature service – cleaning your home effectively but with products and methods that are healthier for your family and safer for the environment.

Maid Brigade contributes to work/life balance by creating a cleaner, healthier sanctuary where busy moms and their families can retreat, recharge, refuel and regroup at the end of the busy workday.

Green Cleaning In a Nutshell

The EPA has determined that our indoor environments are 2 to 5 times more polluted than the outdoors and one of the biggest contributing factors is chemical off-gassing from the products we use at home. Did you know that there is increasing scientific evidence that the chemicals found in traditional cleaning products contain toxins that can cause behavioral, reproductive, and neurological disorders? Some common household cleaning products even contain known and suspected carcinogens.

Healthier for you. Maid Brigade's Green Clean Certified® service includes products certified by Green Seal, an organization which certifies products and services which meet established criteria for protecting the environment and human health. They also use special micro fiber cloths, with a scientific weave designed to remove more dust, dirt and germs than traditional paper or cotton cloths while using less cleaning fluid. The cloths are color-coded so that germs from one room are not transferred to another. Maid Brigade also uses special, closed-canister 4-Level filtration vacuums to remove 99.9% of all dust, dirt, dust mites, pollen, pet dander and hair that is one micron or larger (one micron is really, really tiny!)

Safer for the planet. Using long-lasting, re-useable micro fiber cloths and environmentally friendly cleaning products sold in concentrate goes a long way toward protecting our environment by reducing manufacturing processes, landfill waste and water contamination (since cleaning solutions go down the drain).

VapurClean Advantage™...the evolution of green cleaning and disinfection

This month, Maid Brigade launches an exclusive dry vapor cleaning technology, VapurClean Advantage™, which enhances their green cleaning platform with chemical-free cleaning, disinfection, dust mite control and mold/mildew control. Until VapurClean Advantage technology was available, there had been no green way to disinfect a home. Disinfectants are actually pesticides and as such are prohibited in recognized green cleaning certification programs such as Green Seal's. VapurClean Advantage™ service solves this problem with dry steam vapor – a chemical-free process using water alone. The technology behind VapurClean Advantage service is a patented process that qualifies as an EPA-approved disinfection device.

What Could Be Safer than Water?

Heated to high temperatures in a pressurized boiler tank, the naturally occurring minerals in normal tap water become nano-crystals. These nano-crystals, accelerated along with the steam created through heating, can penetrate the cell membranes of microorganisms to quickly destroy them. However, dry steam vapor will not harm surfaces or furnishings.

The dry steam vapor infiltrates the microscopic pores which naturally occur in all surfaces, where dirt and germs hide and multiply. Topical cleaners, on the other hand, cannot reach into these tiny spaces and thus even the strongest chemical disinfectant cannot thoroughly kill bacteria that cause illness. The technology behind Maid Brigade's VapurClean Advantage has been proven to be effective against infectious microorganisms such as MRSA, salmonella, staph, avian and swine flus and others. This is very important to know as we kick off the flu season.

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Q: What can women who are taking time out of the workforce to be stay-at-home moms do to keep their skills and experience relevant and up-to-date?

A: If you have made the choice to stay at home with your children for an extended period but you plan to eventually return to regular, full-time work, then there are several things you might consider doing to keep your skills, knowledge and credentials updated. Here are ten suggestions:

(1) Read! - Continue subscribing to industry magazines or newsletters that will provide you with the latest information and updates about what is going on in your field. Additionally, consider starting a book club in which your group reads and discusses books about business-related topics.

(2) Maintain your memberships in industry or business-related organizations. – By continuing to attend meetings you will stay connected to people in the business community. Once you begin looking for a job again, these networking contacts will be essential. Your active membership in such an organization is something you can definitely include on your resume.

(3) Join (or start) a networking club/meeting with other moms who are taking a break from their careers – Without a doubt there are other women who have made the same choice to stay home with children, but ultimately plan to go back to work. Seek out women in your neighborhood, children's school, or other community group who are also interested in networking and mentoring one another.

(4) Attend continuing education seminars and educational programs – Take advantage of classes and programs related to your area of expertise or other business-related topic. Also check with industry organizations and local colleges and universities to find out when and where they will offer training or continuing education classes in your area.

(5) Volunteer in your field – Use what you know to benefit those who may not be able to pay for your services. Although a paycheck is great, volunteering still allows you an opportunity to utilize your knowledge as an expert in your field and could be a nice addition to your resume.

(6) Manage a community, school or non-profit project or event– Even if it is not specifically related to your career, taking a major role in the planning and execution of this type of event will allow you to use the same organization, prioritization and management skills needed in a work environment.

(7) Look for consulting opportunities in your field – Taking on an occasional project for a client is a great way to keep your skills fresh, to build your resume, and earn a little extra money. The best way to find this kind of opportunity is through networking. Utilize your business contacts and pursue connections through family, friends, and neighbors.

(8) Keep your resume updated and your interview skills polished – You never know when you might be asked for a resume. A great consulting opportunity may arise and you want to have your resume read to send out upon request. Additionally, if you have not interviewed for a while, make sure you have a nice suit that fits well and makes you feel confident. Take time to practice selling yourself as the best candidate for the job.

(9) Keep your licenses and/or certifications up-to-date - Stay on top of what training or coursework you need to complete to maintain your credentials even if you are out of the workforce. If it is important to have certifications in your field, be sure that you are keeping yours up-to-date in preparation for when you return to work.

(10) Have a mentor– Contact a former boss, co-worker or other professional whom you respect and ask them to be a mentor to you. Get together every couple of months for coffee or lunch to catch up on business-related news and to get advice on what else you can be doing to keep yourself prepared to re-enter the workforce.

If you are staying at home to be with your children, enjoy this time. It won't last forever. Little children grow up and they older they get, the more time you will have for your own pursuits. You will have a chance to get back to your career. For now, make an effort to keep your skills, knowledge and connections in tact to help smooth your transition back into the workforce when the time comes.

Hannah Morris is the owner of HBM Human Resources & Career Consulting based in Charleston, SC. She has 15 years of experience in Human Resources management, recruiting and career counseling. Additionally she is the owner of Pots & Petals, a gardening business that she has started while being a stay-at-home mom.

You want to get in shape but it's not a priority? I understand! It's hard to juggle work, kids, PTA, football schedules, cheerleading, etc.. the list goes on and on. We tend to put exercising at the bottom or close to the bottom of the list at this time in our lives. I have 3 small kids myself, I KNOW how hard it is! I want to offer some useful suggestions on how to squeeze in a quick workout here and there.

The key is to wake up & think, "How can I get my workout in today". It can also help to put it on your calendar on Sunday when you are planning your week. It doesn't have to be one and a half hours at the gym, 5 days a week. You can start with 3 - 30 minute workouts and build up to more. Plan to take the kids to a park where you can walk while they are playing, the East Cobb Park is perfect for that! There are also a lot of benches there to do tricep dips or step-ups on the bench! You can do walking lunges as you are walking! Bring a set of weights & do some bicep curls. The sky is the limit!

There is another way you can workout throughout the day – exercising at your desk. Here are 5 exercises that I would recommend doing at your desk a few times a week – in addition to the 3 – 30 minute workouts!!

1. The Wooden Leg: For lower-body strength: Sit in your chair, extend one leg out straight in front of you and hold for two seconds. Then raise it up as high as you can, and hold it again for two seconds. Repeat with each leg 15 times.

2. Invisible Chair Sit: Stand in front of your chair with your feet a hip's width apart. They work best if you lower your seat as far as it will go. Place your hands on your hips and lower your butt until it's just above the seat. Then sit down as slowly as possible. Do 20 repetitions. To make it harder, reach your hands overhead as if you were holding a beach ball. If you're really feeling steady, try it on one leg.

3. The Magic Carpet Ride: This works your core and arms. Sit in your chair with your legs crossed and your feet on the seat. Then place your hands on the armrests, suck in your gut and raise yourself a few inches above the seat, using your belly muscles and hands. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat five times.

4. Desk Push Ups: Stand a yard or more away from your desk, with your feet together. Place your palms on the edge of the desk a shoulder's width apart. Lower your chest to the edge of the desk, and push back up. Remember to exhale on the way up. Do 20 times.

5. Seated Crunches: Put your feet flat on the floor and sit up straight. Put your hands and arms folded in your lap. Breathe in through your nose, "crunching" your upper and lower abs by pulling your legs up. Push your back against the chair. Hold for 3 seconds and relax, breathing out through your mouth. Do about 100 if you have the time, otherwise do 2 sets of 50 or 4 sets of 25!! You can do this!!

The word exercise comes from the Latin exercere, meaning to keep busy or at work. You are at work and you have to keep busy!!!

Good luck girls! The idea is to feel good and these things will all help you feel good, I promise!! Please call me if you have any questions or would like to try a FREE boot camp at the park! We offer a variety of classes throughout the week at 6 different parks in Marietta, Woodstock, Smyrna, Kennesaw & Acworth.

Heidi Morris
Certified Personal Trainer
Owner, Boot Camp in the Park, LLC
www.BootCampInThePark.org
heidi@bootcampinthepark.org
678-938-7262

Every February and September, the fashion flock from around the world makes their biannual pilgrimage to NYC and the "tents."

The "tents" are set up in Bryant Park and are where hundreds of established, upcoming and those designers in between come to show their collections. In this span of seven days, you see girls that are considered the world's most beautiful (models), men that are considered the world's most powerful, (titans of their industry) and people who are considered the world's most talented (actors, painters, you fill in the blank). But, the thing that really makes fashion week a feast for the eyes are the intrinsic, creative and wonderful ways that the fashion flock dress themselves for the occasion.

By observing the flock in their natural habitat, you can learn a few things that can really help you build a fabulous wardrobe.

1) Stick to what works for you. Fashion editors are the ones to watch to master this task. At every show, the editors are there, looking for the next idea for their "story". As you watch these cool creatures, you begin to notice that they dress in a uniform of sorts. One editor, whose style I tracked for four days, wore black or a very dark denim skinny jean or pant, with some sort of jacket or coat, a blue Hermes Evelyne handbag and some sort of masculine footwear, everyday! She topped it off with deep red lipstick and a haircut to die for! The easiest way to do this is to figure out what pieces work for your body type and then build a wardrobe filled with pieces in this flattering shape.

2) Build a brand. Fashion industry insiders know that if they are dressed in attention getting gear, a photographer may take a picture and it could be the picture that elevates their career. When you are dressed well, you attract people to you and make them WANT to give you a job, a promotion, a date, or whatever it is that you want in life.

3) When in doubt-wear a suit. No matter what trends filter down the runway, the Fashion Directors of major retail stores sit in the front row of the shows in a suit. Taking a cue from this sect, if you are unsure about a piece clothing that you think may be dated, instead of taking the chance put on a suit.

4) Be an independent thinker. The most refreshing aspect of fashion week is that you will see people dressed in all kinds of ensembles. From the pink haired fashion diva in metallic silver over the knee boots, to the fashion sophisticate in her charcoal grey shift dress and YSL bag of the season. Fashion people are unafraid. Unafraid to be themselves, unafraid to take fashion risks, unafraid of other people's judgement of them. Make your interviewer remember you. Wear a sleek suit. Put a ruffled pink blouse under a blazer. Wear that fun broach or pin you love. You never know, it just might be the conversation piece that tells the company "yes, I belong here. You should hire me." In other words, when in doubt, see tip number 1.

Nicole Sinclair is the owner and chief artist for The Style Sanctum, a clothing consultancy focusing on personal style development, personal shopping, and wardrobe editing. You can contact Nicole at nicole@stylesanctum.com or 704.907.1013.

Forbes Magazine recently took a look at how the largest 50 cities in the U.S. rank on what's important for working moms, including jobs, cost of living, health care, education, crime and public parks. Is your city on the list?

Click here to view the list!

When someone dies suddenly, or there's some other family crisis, loved ones often face an upheaval in their lives and terrible emotional strain.

In addition, whether the crisis is local or out of town, they're forced to manage an endless stream of decisions, planning, errands, details, logistics, etc. Many people end up exhausted and overwhelmed.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do..."

Here are six practical things you can do:

1. Provide or arrange transportation to and from the airport or train station. If the crisis is located in your local area, have your friend outsource transportation of his or her inbound friends and family to you (delegate to others as needed). Tell your friend to give out your name, telephone number and email address to everyone in need of transportation. It's important to communicate clearly and stay organized. Research options for those who prefer to rent vehicles or use taxi or car services.

2. Provide or arrange housing for incoming friends & family. Again, have your friend outsource all of this to you and give out your name, home & mobile phone numbers and email address to everyone in need of housing. Do some research and create a list with several options, outlining prices, proximity to relevant locations, availability, etc. Consider reserving a block of rooms at a group rate, though be careful to avoid a situation where you end up paying fees or penalties.

3. Provide baby-sitting/supervision/entertainment for children. Whether for your friend's own children or for the children of people visiting from out of town, this can be very helpful.

4. Answer the telephone at your friend's house. There may be more than a hundred calls per day during a crisis, many of which are simple requests for information (dates, addresses, directions, etc.). Managing even half of these calls can be extremely helpful. Depending upon your friendship and your friend's wishes for privacy, consider offering the same help with your friend's email.

5. House and care for your friend's pets. Your friend's pets might become a burden during a crisis. Make sure you are comfortable with the animals and able to properly care for them.

6. Be a chauffer "go-fer" and helping hand throughout the crisis. Get your friend's car washed & cleaned, pick-up groceries & dry cleaning, shuttle kids to school and activities, drive out-of-town people to and from locations, etc.

"Thank you so much for allowing me to help." These words will ensure your friend knows how sincere you are (many people have difficulty accepting assistance, even when it's badly needed).

From the publisher of "The It's All Right Here Life & Affairs Organizer"
by Mark Gavagan & Patricia M. Kimble, LCSWR
www.AffairsOrganizer.com