A racial study of African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic stay-at-home and working moms showed some interesting differences, primarily in their concerns, the role religion plays in their lives and their aspirations for their children.

While education and health care were common primary concerns for moms, African-American moms (54%) listed crime as an additional concern, for Caucasian moms (percentage not listed in the release) it was financial security and for Hispanic moms (67%) it was employment.

There were two universal challenges for all the moms: the rising cost of food and saving for the future. African-American moms (35%) said affordable housing was a challenge. Caucasian moms (45%) said it was managing the material desires of their children. Hispanic moms (56%) said it was the need for a steady income.

African Americans are the most likely of all polled to turn to their clergy for support.

The moms also revealed their dreams for their children. Among African-American moms, religious commitment tied with good education. A happy adult life and financial security were top choices among Caucasian moms. A good education and a healthy life were tops for Hispanic moms.

BSM Media, a marketing firm that targets moms, conducted the survey the online survey this month, which asked more questions than what I've reported here. The survey ultimately led the marketing firm to conclude "while all mothers are battling with the growing concerns facing our nation, such as education and saving for the future, a mom’s coping strategies and motivations are tied into her culture and ethnic background."

Fascinating, huh? On the one hand, I always think that we moms have a universal bond through our maternal concern. Even the study shows how our primary concerns are basically the same. But it's those other answers that have me stymied. I mean, are Caucasian moms really that concerned with all things financial and material? That much more so than other races? Or is there some social context that's missing? If so, what is it?

Thoughts on the results and what they say about us moms?

So we're securely into 2009 and my resolution to make small, but meaningful changes is going great! Well, that is, except for when it's not.

So my plan was to do little things that will help me live healthier. To do that, I decided to start off with one goal every day for me and my son (Yes, I've folded my son into this mess. It was all well intentioned, but I'm sure if he realized what was going on, he'd be very annoyed). The plan is that each of these daily goals will stick but it will take the year to figure out which things work best.

So it can be something totally innocuous. Like, I'm not going to snack on anything carbohydrate-y and instead, I'm going to reach for fruits and veggies. For my son, sometimes it only vaguely involves him (as in: I will take time to figure out what he's really trying to tell me). Other times, it is more direct: we will eat veggies as a family!

Anyway, today my son and I went to the gym -- a big deal for both of us. He is getting used to the babysitter (one of those goals I made for him that he isn't always on board with) and I am sticking with my plan for daily, intentional exercise-motivated movement. Of course, after our big outing, I had pretzels. The chocolate-covered variety. Not exactly in keeping with my live better theme, but it is what it is.

How are you all doing with your resolutions? Still with them or should we change the topic already?

I have big news: my son threw his first temper tantrum.

Now, I realize there are milestones worth celebrating and then the other ones you'd like to pretend never happened. And while I totally see how this one should fit in the second category, it has marked an unexpected turn in our relationship.

I don't know if you have this same feeling, but I almost always feel like I'm not really a Mom. I do mom-like things, pack mom-like snacks and prepare for emergencies only a mom would consider (emergency pacifiers, emergency toys, emergency cookies). But somehow I always end up feeling kind of goofy. Sort of like I'm playing pretend.

But that was before tantrums came into the picture.

So picture it. We're hanging around the house having a perfectly fine time. And then he wants to do something he really can't do. I can't now remember what it was but I'm sure it was something like lick an open flame or climb into the oven or something. So I tell him no the exact same way I always tell him and I'm right about to give him something else to play with when he inexplicably goes FLOP! Right onto his belly, stretching his arms and legs like he's a baseball player stealing second base. Followed by a sharp squeal which I'm pretty confident no professional athlete would let out.

So there I am wondering what just happened and how I was going to deal with this when, suddenly, he looks at me.

And then, in the thick of his tantrum (only a nanosecond long but it felt like it lasted a year), I had clarity. I felt like a fraud mom because I didn't think I could live up to my image of a parent. But my image of a parent means nothing to him. All he needs is for me to maintain a sense of reason and clarity when his lapses.

Of course, what seemed like an easy need after one tantrum has gotten exponentially more difficult after umpteen tantrums. Still, I'm happy to report that my young, tantrum-throwing darling has yet to touch our stove and I have not, in fact, returned him to the hospital for a refund (despite the threat that I thought as loudly as I could).

Turns out the law regulating lead levels will not impact second-hand stores, such as Goodwill, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission who talked to our working moms guide Katherine Lewis.

The regulation, which will take affect on Feb. 10, requires all vendors of children products designed for kids under age 12 to test for lead. The proposal stirred controversy when second-hand stores were included, as the cost of testing would have caused many such stores to close.

Whew. While it is important to note that when you're buying second-hand items, they may not have been tested if they were produced before the regulation, consignment shops and second-hand stores are crucial for families living on single incomes.

To read more about the law and what it entails, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. To tap into the buzz about the law, check out what the guides for these sites are saying: baby products, toys, preschoolers, child care and grandparents.