It is an inarguable fact that mothers make the world go round. I'm not talking about physics or astronomy; I am talking about women who are responsible for sustaining the human race. Given this awesome responsibility, it would seem only reasonable to dedicate at least one day of the year to these fabulous people. As a tribute to the everyday heroes that make life possible, this article is dedicated to the billions of mothers who have and continue to inhabit this earth. You will hear several women's stories, how they overcame their difficulties and what they are doing to make their lives and those of their families the best possible!
Housewife Turned Triathlete
Tracy Lyn Moland, age 34, was a wife and mother with two small
children, aged two and four, when she realized that she needed
an outlet beyond changing diapers and cleaning the house. "On a
whim," she states, "I decided to do a triathlon" to regain a
sense of self. "All of a sudden, I had a focus, a goal,
something that I was working towards."
Her greatest accomplishment was not completing the triathlon, however. According to Tracy, her best-selling book, "Mom Management: Managing Mom Before Everybody Else," was her greatest inspiration. "It was almost as if I became pregnant with the idea, and it took over my body," she claims. She worked on her book even while at McDonald's and the zoo. Tracy's commitment to her dream led her to have a best-selling book.
Her advice to other moms is simple: "We need energy, motivation and inspiration to be a good mom. We need to be rested, healthy and happy and can only do this by taking care of ourselves." Taking care of the caretaker, Tracy suggests, should be a number-one priority for moms.
Career Woman Turned Work-at-Home Mom
Gena McCown, 26, went from working full-time to staying at
home with her children and running a home-based business for
bath products. Despite the financial uncertainty, she decided
at the very last minute not to return to her full-time job
after her first child was born. Instead, she stayed at home and
cared for her ailing 80-year-old grandmother. For two years,
she took care of her small baby and her grandmother while
taking a few classes at college. As her grandmother's health
declined, she spent less and less time outside of the house.
Nursing care was prohibitively expensive.
After two years, her grandmother passed away. Nine months later she gave birth to her second child. Her greatest challenge was her self image. "From tight budgets to lack of time, I felt that I was turning into a complete slob and not taking care of myself." Her solution? Instead of going on a network make-over show, Gwen took charge and developed a personal make-over for herself. "It is inside and out." She calls it "My Personal Crusade." She is taking her evolution in manageable steps: each week she tackles a new challenge.
Homeschooling Mom
Married 21 years, Natalie Tucker Miller, age 45, has two
teenage daughters who engage in self-directed study. As an
educator, Natalie noticed that her daughters were struggling in
a school system that demanded conformity and quashed personal
development. Consequently, she pulled them out of school and
into a homeschooling program that works for everyone. After 15
years of research, Natalie has launched a parenting education
program called Parenting Proficiencies which fosters a positive
parent/child relationship. "The relationships I've built with
my children is the most amazing thing about being a mother,"
Natalie says. "I've gone from feeling like an incompetent,
confused and boring mother of little kids to a successful,
vibrant and influential woman of many talents."
Now she shares her rich experience with other parents in the form of coaching, parenting education, and early education classes.
Single Mom
Jacky Gamble, age 24, lives with her mother in Vermont. As a
single mother to a 3-and-a-half year old, Jacky has had to
struggle to make her life work, but she has found a way.
Currently an administrative assistant at an environmental
consulting firm, Jacky has also started a business as a "virtual
assistant," something of which she can be very proud. She is
reaching for the stars, "knowing that by doing what I want and
love will help to make my daughter a strong and independent
woman one day." A virtual assistant is much like a cyber
secretary with a strong business sense to gain clients. "I hope
to eventually build my business to be profitable enough to quit
my full-time job," says Jacky. She already has a few virtual-secretary clients.
© Copyright 2003-7 SheKnows, LLC and/or individual copyright holders. All Rights Reserved.
1 |
