Mommy Moments

How a Few Local Moms Juggle Work, Volunteering and Motherhood

Story compiled by Krista Martinelli

Have you ever wondered how some mothers manage to juggle so many responsibilities at once?  A few of our readers suggested this type of story, so this month we’ve put together a few interviews. We can have a little insight into just “how they do it.” It’s truly a balancing act, especially if you have your own business and have young children. Thanks to Andrea McKenney, Amy Roberts, Lois Spatz and Lisa Dawn Wax for answering our questions. In keeping with our theme as it’s been for the past three years in Around Wellington® (now AroundWellington.com), we get the chance to see how these women are “Making a Difference!”)

Andrea McKenney

AW: What’s the most challenging thing about being a mother and balancing work with it?

The challenge is always fighting my own expectations of what can get done. I take my younger daughter Hannah with me to work, so sometimes I feel like I’m not being the greatest mother or the greatest employee. However, I feel blessed to always be able to work while being with my girls. I’ve had some funny challenges in balancing everything. I do the accounting for my church, and I worked out a way to keep breastfeeding while getting the accounting done, for example.

AW: What do you do for work?

My title is Administrative Assistant at the Community Christian Church. I do the calendar, special event planning, the newsletter, the weekly bulletin, meetings, press releases, coordinating volunteers, running a coffee house, prayer nights, worship nights and accounting. I like to say that I’m both a “secretary and a firefighter.” Each week I do approximately fifteen hours at the office and five hours at home.

Also I’ve started doing my own business, Premier Jewelry, as of December of 2009. It’s a great company, allowing me a lot of independence. I try to do a home show about once a week, and it takes about six hours per show, including prep time, show time and filling out orders. I also attend two hours of training per month for Premier Designs High Fashion Jewelry. It’s a great additional way to make money and have fun! If anyone is interested, the advertisement (and sometimes a coupon) can be found on this website, aroundwellington.com. Also see my contact info at the end of this interview.

AW: How old are your kids?  At what point do things get easier?

We have Shauna (5) who will be 6 in April, and Hannah (3.5). Also my younger brother Joel (16) moved in with us. He attends John I. Leonard High School. It’s an unusual situation, providing parenting for two young girls, as well as my teenage brother. When Hannah starts going to preschool in the fall, I believe I will have a little more free time.

AW: What volunteer work do you do?

I lead worship for our church. I’m also the co-coordinator for our Wednesday night “Living Inside Out” series. It’s for children who are 12 and under. It’s a high-energy program featuring different Bible stories. We act out the stories and use drama, crafts, games and a story station to drive the point home. It runs every Wednesday evening from 7pm to 8pm. In the summer, we meet every other week on Wednesdays, from 7pm to 8pm. Every other week on Wednesdays, we do a 9am to 5pm event trip with approximately 30 to 40 kids. We take our field trips to places like Wannado City, John Prince Park or the zoo. I used to do all of the planning, but I’m phasing myself out of the planning piece of it now that we’ve hired a curriculum coordinator.

Our church collects donations for Oasis, a food kitchen located approximately at 10^th Avenue and Haverhill Road in Lake Worth. Our big goal for this month is to collect 5,878 pounds of food. That number is derived from a Bible verse from Isaiah 58: Verses 7 and 8 (about taking care of our fellow man). To help out with this food drive, see our Mission Impossible Press Release!

In addition to the non-perishable foods, we usually bring something fresh each Saturday morning during the month of the food drive – like fresh milk or chicken or juice. Our church motto is “Real faith, real friends, making a real difference!” Last month we collected about $3,000 I.D.E.S. assistance for a church in Haiti.

AW: How is the “division of labor” handled in your household with your husband?  When it comes to laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, paying bills?

The division of labor is a work in progress. I just turned 30. Right now I pay the bills and do all of the housework. My husband does everything that relates to outside of the house (like lawn maintenance) and I do the inside of the house. He’s a petroleum technician.

AW: What did you major in when you were in school?  Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a “grown up?”

I wanted to be a lawyer. I graduated from high school at the top of my class. Then I went to a local community college with a computer science concentration. Then we started a family before I finished college. So I would like to go back someday and finish.

AW: Do you ever feel like your activities cause you to “ignore your kids?” Why or why not? 

Yes, it depends on the situation. At first there wasn’t very much for kids at my church, until I started the kids’ program. Because it’s something that my kids benefit from, the kids’ program has been very fulfilling for me.

I was happy to hear Shauna say that she wants “to be a worship leader like her mom!” In other words, I must be doing something right in their eyes. If everything is copasetic here at home and everyone’s happy, it doesn’t bother me as much whether the house is in order. I was inspired by this quote that someone shared with me, “We have enough time in the day to do what God wants us to do in a day.” If I put God first, family second and everything else after that, it all works out.

AW: What message do you want your kids to learn, more than anything else?

No matter what they choose (to succeed or fail at), as long as Christ is at the center of their life, all is well. We can be so imperfect as human beings, but Christ gives us what we need. My dad was married five times. I grew up with my mom and my step dad, and now my mother has passed away. We all live imperfect lives. We all have our demons, but we always want our kids to be better. In trying to offer some guidance to the teenager in our house (my younger brother Joel), I want to let him understand that our parents were not perfect. I can just be the best example possible.  And if our family is together, loving and seeking God, that’s the bottom line. That’s what is important.

Andrea McKenney has her own business, Premier Designs Jewelry. See her ad on our website www.aroundwellington.com. You can visit www.premierdesigns.com for more information or contact Andrea at: premierlyu@ymail.com or (561) 506-5967. Ask about being a Premier Hostess!

Amy Roberts

AW: What’s the most challenging thing about being a mother and balancing part-time work with it?

It’s balancing the time when I’m at home. I spend a lot of hours at night doing what would normally be my day-time work. Before children I used to have hobbies, now my children’s activities and volunteering are my hobbies. It’s funny, but for the past five years or so, one of my New Year’s resolutions has been to organize our family photo albums. Well, that hasn’t happened yet.

AW: What do you do for work?

I’m a graphic designer and marketing consultant. I help various small businesses and non-profit groups in our area with their marketing and graphic design needs.  I help them with logos, advertisements, flyers, direct mail, signage, e-mail marketing and more.

AW: How old are your kids?  At what point do things get easier?

We have Jake (7) and Alexa (5). Jake is at Panther Run Elementary and Alexa is in the Pre-K program at St. Peter’s Child Enrichment Center. I don’t expect it to get “easier” at any point.  As they grow older I expect things to get busier, and I look forward to the challenge!

 AW: What volunteer work do you do?

I’m a PTA Board Member, which is nice because you get to interact with all of the teachers and parents and I get an “inside” look into how the school is running. We do a lot of fundraising for Panther Run Elementary in order to buy things the school needs. For example, playground equipment, PE equipment, media room equipment, computers and other essentials. I also produce the school newsletter which really keeps me in the know.  I am the room mom for both of my kids. Room moms generally help organize class events, fundraising efforts, teacher appreciation efforts and more. I also serve on the board for The Isles at Wellington.  I’ve been on the board for the past three years and I produce a newsletter.  I also help our church, St. Peter’s, with annual fundraising events such as the Spring Fair and Harvest Festivals.  These volunteer opportunities are why I’m working part-time right now, so I can get involved in my children’s lives, our community and still be there for my children when they get home from school.

AW: How is the “division of labor” handled in your household with your husband?  When it comes to laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, paying bills?

In general, my husband handles all of the outside work and I handle the inside. He does help me with the dishes and other minor repairs as well as reading to the kids each night. He handles the major bills, and I handle my personal bills like my credit cards, cell phone, life insurance, gas, etc.  We’re busy like so many other parents are because our kids are involved in sports. My husband works in Sunrise, so it’s a big commute but he still manages to attend the kid’s games and even coach. Alexa has gymnastics on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Jake has baseball games, and my husband is a coach for his team. Alexa also does cheerleading at St. Peter’s. People ask me why do I do all of this. My reply, “I like being involved and making a difference. That’s why.” We hope our kids will grow up to want to do the same.

AW: Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a “grown up?” What did you major in when you were in school?

I knew I wanted to do something creative and in marketing when I “grew up.”  I received my undergraduate degree in Advertising and Communications at Michigan State University. Then I achieved my Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia while working full-time. Graphic Design was my minor at Michigan State, but turned out to be a great part-time job for me after having children.  Before having a family, I used to work a 50-hour work week at VeriSign as a Marketing Manager, and previous to that at a CAIS Internet, both in the D.C. area.

AW: Do you ever feel like your activities cause you to “ignore your kids?” Why or why not? 

I don’t because most of what I’m doing is centered around them. I’m in their classrooms a lot and at their practices and games. After school we try to find fun things to do and my husband reads to them nightly. We also like to find fun activities to do with the kids on weekends apart from the sports.  When they’re in school during the day or in bed for the night, that’s when I try to get client and volunteer work done. 

AW: What message do you want your kids to learn, more than anything else?

I’d like my children to learn to get involved and make the most of every day. That family and health is everything AND that it’s important to love, laugh and try to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Amy Roberts has her own business, ASR Marketing and Graphic Design. She is actively looking for new clients. You can visit www.AmyRoberts.com for more information or email her at: asrfl@bellsouth.net.

Lois Spatz

AW: What’s the most challenging thing about being a mother and balancing work with it?

To be in balance…that is the most challenging thing. If one thing is off, then another suffers. You have to think about your family before you say “yes” to something. It’s so important to remember yourself in the equation.

AW: What do you do for work?

I try to put as much work into my LS Photography business I can. Also, I do Eldercare on a part-time basis. I’m the main photographer for Binks Forest Elementary school. I’m on the board of Wellington Landings Middle School and am in charge of Media Relations. For our Cub Scouts pack, I’m the chairperson, the Media Relations coordinator and the “pack photographer.”

AW: How old are your kids?  At what point do things get easier?  

Shawn is 13 and Eaven is 9.  I do not think it ever gets “easier,” it just gets challenging in different ways. When they were little, it was more physical. Doing things like changing diapers, chasing them in the store and carrying a hundred things just to go to the mall is now replaced with more emotional and physiological issues like how to teach them to handle bullies or how to develop good learning habits.

AW: What volunteer work do you do?

I used to work for local newspapers and area magazines, so my skills as a photographer and writer are often volunteered to both children’s schools. I am on the PTO for Wellington Landings Middle as a Public Relations contact and I do many photos and write-ups for Binks Forest Elementary. I am also on the Committee for our Pack 125 Cub Scout Group as Media and Public Relations Advisor.

AW: How is the “division of labor” handled in your household with your husband?  When it comes to laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, paying bills?

I am very blessed to have a great husband named David. My mother-in-law gave me good advice when I started out. She said, “Let him make mistakes and eventually he will get it right. If you criticize everything your husband does for you, he will stop helping.” I bit my tongue many times, but today, I can say he does everything to help around the house. David does the bills, (which he has learned to pay right off of his iPhone), he cooks on certain nights, takes out the trash and always takes the kids places. David even supports me when I travel to see friends and family alone. He sees how it refreshes my batteries, and I am a better person when I get some time alone.

AW: What did you major in when you were in school?  Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a “grown up?”

I majored in English/Literature. I also went to Cosmetology School and earned my license. I worked and managed Regis salons for years. I also trained as an airline reservations supervisor and worked for the airlines for a few years. 

No, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. This was the problem. I always knew I wanted be a writer deep down inside, but I pursued many careers before I admitted to myself I had to give that occupation a try. (I am still dancing around it.) I did, however, always know I wanted to be a mother.

AW: Do you ever feel like your activities cause you to “ignore your kids?” Why or why not? 

I developed a saying. Do not let the things I am doing to “help” the kids, take away from my being with the kids. I say I developed because it took me a while to figure out if I am volunteering for the school 15 hours a week and not taking my son to the park, then I am not doing my job as a mother.

AW: What message do you want your kids to learn, more than anything else?

The Golden Rule! Do unto others as you would have done to you. I teach them that what they put out into the world…is what they get back. I want them to understand that when you give kindness and do nice things for others, this is the way people will treat you. I also try to teach them that there are people that do not play by the rules. And for them, we can learn about compassion.

Lois Spatz runs her own photography business, LS Photography. You can visit http://lsphotos.vpweb.com/ for more information or email her at: loisinfla@mac.com. Lois also contributes stories and photos to AroundWellington.com. She can also be reached at 561-797-1056.

Lisa Dawn Wax

AW: What’s the most challenging thing about being a mother and balancing work with it?

Doing what is best for my child without killing me in the process. Time management, of course, sharing quality time together and still managing to check off as many things on my to do list as possible. Seeing him always with a smile; raising a healthy, happy, well adjusted child, while at the same time being a healthy, happy, well-adjusted adult.

AW: What do you do for work?

Although technically I suppose I am a stay-at-home mom because I do not go to an office, I work at writing my monthly column, giving reiki treatments, massages and life coaching/spiritual guidance.  In addition I am constantly cleaning, preparing meals, grocery shopping, running errands, paying bills, managing finances and investments, and fixing things or planning things. I am also constantly reading, researching and studying to deepen my understanding of spirituality, so that I can be a better teacher and healer. It seems that my phone never stops ringing, text messages and emails never stop coming as people are constantly seeking out my opinions and advice. There is a well-known life coach, Cheryl Richardson, who calls herself Coach on Call. Well, I too seem to be a “coach on call.” My work is to help make other people’s lives easier and better.

AW: How old are your kids?  At what point do things get easier?

Dante is 5 years old. It’s starting to get a little easier now as he is getting more autonomous.

AW: What volunteer work do you do?

I’m a Patient Visitor for Hospice of Palm Beach County and a Room Mom at Dante’s school.

AW: How is the “division of labor” handled in your household with your husband?  When it comes to laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, paying bills?

When it comes to laundry, cooking, dishes, cleaning, paying bills? There is no division of labor. I do everything. I married an Italian!

AW: What did you major in when you were in school?  Did you know what you wanted to be when you were a “grown up?”

I started college as pre-med with the idea of becoming a Nurse Practitioner, but half-way through I changed to writing with the idea of changing the world. LOL.

AW: Do you ever feel like your activities cause you to “ignore your kids?” Why or why not? 

Sometimes I feel like I don’t pay as much attention as I should because I am constantly multi-tasking. I’ll sit down with him for a moment and then think of something I need to do or forgot to do and jump up to do it saying, “I’ll be right back.”  But we always have bedtime together. That’s our special “Mommy/Dante” time that I never skimp on. I put him to sleep every night with a story, some TV, a lullaby or two and lots of cuddling.

AW: What message do you want your kids to learn, more than anything else?

Hmmm. That’s a tough one. I feel like the message I want him to learn now is different from the messages I will want him to learn as he gets older. For now I just want him to know that mommy loves him more than anything else, she’ll always be there for him, and that love never dies. As he gets older I suppose I’ll want him to understand and appreciate more about how to love and how to be loved.

Lisa Dawn Wax, aka Lightworker Lisa, has been certified in Massage Therapy, Fitness Training and Reiki Healing for over 15 years. In addition to being a born Lightworker she is a certified Angel Healing Practitioner and Reiki Master; all of which basically confirm her intuitive abilities and commitment to help, heal and teach. Using Reiki, divine messages and intuitive readings, she has helped many people to identify the source of their pain, clarify current life situations, and successfully redirect their focus into positive channels. She also writes a monthly column for AroundWellington.com called “Lighten Up with Lisa.” She can be reached at 561-594-3948 or visit her website www.lightworkerlisa.com.