Welcome to our latest monthly column, “Mom on the Street” (ya know, like “Man on the Street”).
Each month, we’ll be asking moms just like you for a slice of their sage advice, insider tips or
tried-and-true wisdom in the hopes that their unique brand of mothering inspires, assuages, calms,
strengthens and even amuses you.
 Tiffany Hulbert is a manufacturing engineer with Lockheed Martin. Here’s what this Arlington, Texas, transplant (she relocated from Indiana two years ago) and mother of Adrianne, age 7, and Ian, age 2, has to say:
“I would have to say that my greatest accomplishment to date as a parent is finishing college while being a working mother. I had my daughter halfway through getting my bachelor’s of science in industrial and manufacturing engineering, and I had my son halfway through my master’s of science in engineering management—both of my degrees came from Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, Ind. I managed to find the time to study, work and enjoy watching my children learn and grow. I have enjoyed sharing my love of learning with both of my children. My daughter is currently in the first grade and is in the accelerated reading program at school and is constantly challenging herself with more difficult books. The words that she can read and spell just amaze me. My son also loves reading—he brings me a stack of four or five books at a time every night, and we read after dinner until bedtime.
My husband and I are enjoying making our own family memories in our new home. We have started to enjoy entertaining guests in our home. About once a month, we schedule a gathering for current and former co-workers and friends and relax with fun, food and games. We are also becoming active in our daughter’s school activities and with other parents of the children in her class.
I am truly happy with my life, and for that I am grateful to my family for teaching me the values of love and learning. We look forward to the future and appreciate the lessons of the past as we live each day and celebrate our family.” |
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 Jessica Jacobs is the president and designer of Little Soles Inc. (www.littlesoles.ca), maker of super-funky shoes for little ones. Here’s what this Canadian mom of two from Calgary, Alberta, has to say:
“I have to be honest: This is a hard question to answer. I feel that there are so many small accomplishments on a daily basis, so they have to count for something, right?
After starting Little Soles Inc. almost four years ago, I discovered that I had to let go of the finding-the-perfect-balance idea. After all, running a company and being a mom are two full-time jobs—how could I do both successfully?
I believe that balance is not a reality; however, harmony is achievable. With that out of the way, I was able to start enjoying the days that I was successful as a mom and the days that I was successful as an entrepreneur. The days I am in mom mode, I remind myself not to be so hard on myself when there are things not getting done for work. I have learned that there will always be sacrifice. Whether that sacrifice is with Little Soles Inc., my family life, my own personal time or as a mom, there will always be some sacrifice—that is reality. Once I was able to accept that, I was able to be the best mom, president, wife or me that I could be.
Although it sounds simple, I have found such peace in this concept. I was able to gently let myself down for not getting it all done all the time. I could accept and be proud of the fact that I was the best I could be at that moment. With that, I was able to become a better parent.
I decided to share my new understanding with my children (4 and 7 years old). Even though they see me as a superstar who should be able to do everything, I need their understanding and patience with all my roles. To my surprise, they got it! For some reason, I had never shared this epiphany about balance with them before. Perhaps I thought that they wouldn’t understand my grown-up stuff, but they did. They truly did.
Now, life for me is different. Better. The stresses of trying not to let anyone down and trying to always be everything to everyone are much less. I am teaching my children that you can be successful outside the home as well as inside the home.
This harmony and the sharing of it with my children has become a key to our family happiness. Communication—what a simple accomplishment, and yet it has proven to be my greatest one thus far.” |
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 Kim Maksymuik is the creator of The Chatterbox (www.chatterboxgames.com), a life skills learning game designed to help parents and educators teach children about money, people, goals and character. Heres what this Crystal Beach, Fla., mother of 5-year-old boy/girl twins has to say:
“After trying to have a family for so long, my husband, David, and I were overjoyed to discover that we were having twins. We eagerly embraced parenthood, with all the chaos, discovery, worry and joy that go with being new parents. When Tate and Palmer were 2, my husband and I decided to start teaching them age-appropriate life skills. This led to the beginning of our business, Chatterbox Games.
As the business demanded more of my time at home, the kids seemed content to play beside me as I worked. One warm summer day, I filled the wading pool so the kids could splash around and cool off. Laughing and smiling, my daughter asked me to come in and splash with them. ‘In a minute,’ I said. ‘I just need to finish something.’ To my surprise, she looked at me and said, ‘You always say that, Mommy,’ and turned and walked away, no longer smiling. Needless to say, I was shocked. I thought back to all the times in the past few months I had said ‘just a minute’ or ‘not now.’
I am grateful to this day for that lesson from my daughter. It has guided my actions and decisions. When I feel the tug of responsibilities and deadlines, which is all the time, family always comes first. It is by far my greatest accomplishment to date.” |
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