Moms Stress Less This Back to School Season

Summer's end means the beginning of hectic fall schedules and that "back to reality" mindset. We're all busy- but no one more so than working moms. (And let's face it- isn't every mom a working mom?)

From kids and career it’s a balancing act with everyone's schedules, moms are always on the go as it is add in kids going to school with drop offs, pick-ups, sports and after school activities life becomes more challenging.

Among moms with children under the age of 18; 75 percent work and over 75 percent work full time, according to US Department of Labor.

If you’re a stay at home mom there is no quit time. The average stay at home mom wakes at 6:23 am and ends on average at 8:31 pm. between childcare, household tasks and errands including groceries its no wonder coffee, wine, naps, are things they can’t live without. Time for herself only one hour and seven minutes a day. *

So how can moms make the most of their time so that they get more done, enjoy their family time more and get the kids ready for a successful school year?

“Back to school is a huge rush after summer,” said Karen Firsel, mom and lifestyle expert. “Make sure kids are well prepared for the routine again. Wake up times are on the earlier side than summer. I like to do a lot of things the night before, I make sure backpacks are set, I know what we are having for breakfast and make sure the kids know what time they are waking up. I do not let my kids go out the door without eating something and Im always putting Smithfield in my grocery cart because they have great sausage, ham and bacon so we are able to make a lot of our favorites in the morning.”

This back-to-school season, Smithfield® is partnering with No Kid Hungry to donate enough for two million meals to students in need through the brand’s “Most Important Meal” initiative. For the second consecutive year, Smithfield is ensuring a well-balanced breakfast is at the top of every student’s back-to-school list by doubling its commitment from last year and encouraging people to support No Kid Hungry’s in-school breakfast programs and the one in six children suffering from food insecurity in America.

Now through the end of September, people everywhere can help Smithfield and No Kid Hungry reach their goal by sharing their breakfast on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using #BreakfastPower. For every breakfast shared, Smithfield will donate enough for 10 meals* to No Kid Hungry – helping more kids get access to healthy meals.

“Family time means everyone needs to be well and not sick. I’m always having Clorox Disinfecting Wipes around the house,” said Firsel. Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes remove germs, bacteria, kitchen grease and countless other nasties you find lurking in your home. The wipes kills 99.9% of germs, viruses, and bacteria. Kills Staph, E. coli, Salmonella, Strep.

“I’m a working mom so I make a lot of lists, I need to know am sure what I need to do during the day and use my best of time for my kids,” said Firsel. “It’s important for me to put myself on the top of the list. I like to work out, spend time with friends and family.”

For more information visit Smithfield.com and Clorox.com

For more information on Smithfield’s “Most Important Meal” campaign and to learn how to donate, visit Smithfield.com/NoKidHungry.

*One dollar can provide up to 10 meals. This amount is based on the individual experiences of grant recipients. Contributions will be used to reach the highest number of children facing hunger in America. Share Our Strength is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Smithfield Foods will donate $1 for every social media post shared with the hashtag #BreakfastPower up to $50,000 to No Kid Hungry from July 5, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Smithfield will make a minimum donation of $200,000 to No Kid Hungry during this campaign.

About Karen Firsel

Karen Firsel started her TV career in New York, producing at MSNBC for Ann Curry, and then at CNN for Connie Chung and Anderson Cooper. A former Oprah Winfrey Show producer, Karen is an on-camera personality in Chicago and has contributed dynamic and fully curated segments for many of that city’s morning shows. She joined the nationally syndicated entertainment show OK!TV as a Style Team correspondent. In addition to her TV work, Karen has written columns about parenting tips, motherhood and more. Visit karenfirsel.com

About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

About Smithfield

A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield’s products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and https://twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

The Clorox Company

The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with approximately 8,700 employees worldwide and fiscal year 2017 sales of $6 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized consumer brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Liquid Plumr® clog removers; Poett® home care products; Fresh Step® cat litter; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration products; Burt's Bees® natural personal care products; RenewLife® digestive health products; and Rainbow Light®, Natural Vitality® Neocell® and Stop Aging Now® dietary supplements. The company also markets brands for professional services, including Clorox Healthcare® and Clorox Commercial Solutions®. More than 80 percent of the company's sales are generated from brands that hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories.

Clorox is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, a community of global leaders committed to sustainability. The company has been broadly recognized for its corporate responsibility efforts, most notably being named to the Drucker Institute's 2017 Management Top 250 list, The Just 100: America's Top Citizens list, CR Magazine's 2017 Best Corporate Citizens list and the first sector-neutral Bloomberg Gender Equality Index in 2018. In support of its communities, The Clorox Company and its foundations contributed about $11 million in combined cash grants, product donations and cause marketing in fiscal year 2017. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com, including the Good Growth blog, and follow the company on Twitter at @CloroxCo.

Courtesy: Smithfield and Clorox

Photo Courtesy: Ran Zwigenberg CC-BY-SA 2.0 from flickr

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* Nypost.com. (2018). [online] Available at: https://nypost.com/2018/03/17/... [Accessed 16 Aug. 2018].