I am published! "A Spotlight on Moms"

About a month ago I thought it would be fun to submit articles to our local paper, The Valley Roadrunner.  The editor said that next time he "had room" he would run my article.  Well, the time has come!  This Friday my article was run in the paper, head shot and all.  In case you aren't a Valley Centerite, and are interested, here is the article.  Ideas for new articles welcome!

A Spotlight on Moms

By: Amy Podratz

“A Mom’s Work is Never Done”

While doing my fast-paced read of a recent Valley Roadrunner publication, I got to thinking… us moms really need a place of our own – a spotlight on moms.  That thought led me to writing this article. 

Daughter, niece, aunt, wife, friend – no label is as important as being a mom. As a mom of a 4 and 7 year old, I am exhausted when I think of all that I have to accomplish in a day.  Whether you work full-time or stay at home, being a mom is a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week job.  Though this particular job has no paycheck, the rewards are priceless! 

If you are anything like me, you only found time to read this article because you are enjoying a cup of coffee before the kids wake up, waiting for dinner to cook or between loads of laundry.  The old adage is true – a mother’s work is never done.  So, I hope that you make it to the end of the article before the next buzzer rings or a child starts calling!

As a regular Facebooker, I have found that us moms have many things in common.  Busy schedules, funny stories, grateful for a break from time-to-time and the skills to multi-task all seem to be consistent in my “friends” posts.  Moms are everywhere!  Helping with school events, volunteering in the classroom, cheering on your child at their sport of choice, posting pictures, helping with homework, planning gatherings, sending birthday cards, organizing schedules, being referee between two siblings, packing lunches, making doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointments, chauffeuring, running endless errands and trying to keep the house clean.  The list goes on and on.

If you are anything like me you have some so-called organizational system.  In our house we have a white board on our fridge.  Though I would love to say that I am so organized that everything is calendared to the minute, it just is not so.  We write on there the groceries needed and major events coming up that week – picture day, wear red to school on Friday, appointments and the like.  Some days I feel like I need one of those incredibly large white boards that teachers have in classrooms to keep it all straight.  I think that each of us just do the best we can and hope that we don’t forget a family member’s birthday or find ourselves saying, “Oh no!  We had dentist appointments today!”

Though many studies show that multi-tasking is inevitably the most inefficient way to accomplish tasks, I don’t think moms have any other choice.  Here is one of many examples: Last week I was attempting to fold a load of laundry, that’s it, fold a load of laundry.  In the middle of my least favorite task my 4 year old daughter came to the door full of mud.  Yes, head-to-toe mud.  I had to stop, get her undressed, in the tub, and get the clothes soaking.  When I went back to folding, the phone rang.  After the conversation, I went back and had to re-start the dryer because everything was now in a wrinkled ball.  Do you relate?

So, here is to you moms.  The unsung heroes of the home, workplace and community! And, remember, none of us are perfect, we are moms.  Doing our best every day and seeking rewards in the form of hugs and cuddle time.

With my fellow moms in mind, I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes: Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease.  ~Lisa Alther