Mile Square Parenting

Baby Models: Cinderellas or Drudges?

Kathy Zucker's toddlers have been photographed by major brands over the last four years. However, the work has been time-consuming, last-minute, and unremunerative.

In the last four years, my toddlers have modeled for Pampers, Volkswagen, Parenting, Parents and Kiwi Magazines, Toys R Us, and Sears. Baby modeling is time intensive, last-minute, unremunerative and definitely not glamourous.  But it can also serve as an additional source of income.  Print modeling shoots typically pay  between $100 and $200, a rate that's decided based on supply and demand. A better pay rate is $50 an hour—great for a one-year-old.  The agency, however, takes a 20 percent cut. I usually have to drive into the city twice (once for the gosee and again for the shoot) and pay for parking and tolls. We basically break even. Plus, the odds of getting booked at an open so-called "go-see"—hundreds of kids are seen—are less than …

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Mile Square Parenting

Helping Hoboken Moms Get Started as Consultants

Kathy Zucker figured out which tools she needed to work from home. Now she is helping local moms launch businesses.

Five years ago, I started working part-time from home as the executive director of a healthcare non-profit. Even though I chose to work part-time instead of full-time to provide balance between my career and  my young family, it was really scary to lose the safety net of my salary and benefits, not to mention all the corporate support systems. When you start working from home, it is a really drastic change from a corporate environment to a small business one. I no longer had an IT department to call when my computer stopped working or my internet connection cut out; I was entirely on my own for all facets of my business, simultaneously wearing CEO, accounting and administrative hats. All while I was trying to do my actual work. I was …

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Juggling Career & Motherhood in Hoboken

The recession began for Kathy Zucker's family in 2006, so she had lots of practice in managing a household on one income when things got tough in 2008. Every cloud has a silver lining, and she actually became healthier when her lifestyle changed.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Patch.com and my column! Every two weeks I am going to be writing about topics relating to my Hoboken household of four (me, my two toddlers E & J, and my husband N). I am a Hoboken WAHM (Work at Home Mom) living in a four-bedroom condo (they really do exist!) in southwest Hoboken (Mayor Dawn Zimmer's ward!) that we bought in early 2009. I have to say that I never in my wildest dreams thought I would wind up doing what I do, but it all works. And you know, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Ten years ago I was a dedicated Manhattan career woman. I was a hospital marketing director headed for VP, my husband and I were newlyweds living in Brooklyn Heights, and I thought that was how things would always be. …

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