Looking for a “Pick-me-up” on a Bad Day?

by Kate Fineske on February 4, 2014 · 1 comment

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Wow. And I thought the Polar Vortex week was a struggle.
I’m slighting wondering if this past week might have it beat…

Another 3 days of unexpected, weather-related, back-to-back school closings and the obnoxious temptation to give in to guilt (as I juggled an already action-packed week that did NOT originally include household isolation with 3 antsy kids).

So what do you do when you’re in need of a little pick-me-up?

ME?… I visit Pinterest for some quick “Inspirational Talk.”
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Bring on a new day please!
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Perfection is SO overrated… right?
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For some reason whenever I read this
I think “laundry” — how about you?
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Much, MUCH better than the alternative “lose”…
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In the great words of Winnie-the-Pooh…
(because who can resist Pooh?)
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This definitely simplifies things a bit, huh?
And such a positive way to envision a day.
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Looking for more inspiration?

Visit our NAMC Pinterest Account’s Inspiring Quotes for Moms board—without a doubt, a perfect pick-me-up for those days that…

Just.

Don’t.

Go.

As planned.
(You know like 99% of our days a parents?)

Leave a Comment: What do you do when in need of a Pick-me-up? What are your go-to inspiring quotes?

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Finding Beauty and Joy Amongst the Chaos – A Mother’s Letter by Kristin Yook

by Kate Fineske on January 30, 2014 · 4 comments

What would be the most important wisdom you would pass down to your child(ren)?

Today Kristen Yook tackles this question in a letter to her children.

Kristin and her husband Douglas reside in Holbrook, NY with their 2-year-old daughter Sabrina and are excited to welcome their second child expected this March. Currently Kristin enjoys her role as a stay-at-home mother—having acquired a wealth of caregiving knowledge from her pre-motherhood career as a School Psychologist and as Program Director for the Long Island Parenting Institute (where she taught parent education classes).

Kristin discovered Mothers’ Center through a local library group and says that being a part of the group enriched her role as a mother and helped her build much needed supportive relationships with other women and mothers.

Without further ado, I present Kristin’s letter to her children…

Kristen with her husband Douglas and their 2-year-old daughter Sabrina.

To My Children,

The day daddy and I decided that we were ready to start creating our family is a day that I will never forget.

We were on vacation in Mexico sitting out on our hotel deck relaxing, taking in the beautiful sights and enjoying each other’s company. We knew we wanted to have children together but to be honest, we were scared.

  • Did we save enough money?
  • Would we know what to do?

However, our biggest concern was if our dream of having children was a selfish dream.

As we sat on our beautiful, relaxing hotel deck looking out at the peaceful blue water and warm, white sand we knew how much beauty and joy this world has to offer, yet we couldn’t help but think of how this world can also be filled with chaos and ugliness.

Mommy and daddy loved you and wanted only the best for you even before you were conceived. We knew we could provide you with a safe and happy life in our home, but would this world be a safe and happy place for you all the time?

The truth is: Probably not.

As you journey through life I hope you see the beauty and joy this world has to offer in everything you do and in all the relationships you form. However, I understand that along the way you may be faced with ugliness, challenges, disappointment and possibly pain. Not everyone you meet will want you to succeed or like you and (as disappointing as that may sound) that’s okay.

The most important thing we hope you’ll remember is:

Before anything, you first have to
love yourself and believe in yourself.

~
Similarly, as you grow and develop, I hope I can teach you to be true to yourself (a life lesson which always stands out in my mind). It’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing or what everyone else thinks may be the best path for you. I hope you’ll remember that only you know what path in life will make you happy, so choose that path (because you are the one who has to live it).

Don’t be afraid of failure, it makes you stronger. (And the gift of failure is knowledge and learning from your mistakes.) Don’t be afraid to be different, differences are what make the world a more beautiful place.

We can’t all have the same strengths and weakness so don’t compare yourself to others, embrace your strengths and always acknowledge your weaknesses by doing your best to improve them. Yet, please remember no one is perfect. Additionally, life isn’t about being the most popular and perfect person, it’s about exploring who you are and what gifts were bestowed on you to share with the world.

Be kind to others even when they are not kind to you (hopefully they will follow your example).

If you have a dream, go after it! You can achieve your dreams and goals if you work hard and put forth your best efforts.

Mommy and daddy may give you many things during your life, but don’t forget the world will never hand you your dreams on a silver platter. You’ll have to go after your dreams yourself, even if there are obstacles in your way. Stay strong and persistent. Achieving these dreams will take time, patience and diligence. But it’s worth your effort.

Be true to yourself, believe in yourself. Do this and I know beauty and happiness will find you (even amongst this world’s sometimes harsh and ugly realities).

Love Always,
Mommy

Leave a Comment: Do any of Kristin’s words ring true with you? Please help me give a warm welcome to Mothers Central guest Kristin Yook by leaving her a comment and sharing her letter with others!

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Are you interested in submitting a guest post letter?

We’ve been asking our members across the nation to respond to the question:
What would you tell your child in a letter?
Get more details and read other guest post letters here.

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One Angry Mother

by Kate Fineske on January 28, 2014 · 0 comments

Today’s policies for women and children need some cleaning up. And who understands “organizing messes” more than moms?

On Thursday, February 6th NAMC Advocacy Coordinator Valerie Young in collaboration with Shea Levin (the Campaign Director of Every Child Matters Long Island) will come together to lead an honest presentation and discussion on how and why as mothers it is important for us to advocate for both our children and ourselves.

If you’re local to Rockville Centre, NY considering joining the discussion on Creating Clout: Using Your Mom Power to Clean Up this Bureaucratic Mess.

Today we welcome Valerie to Mothers Central who, in preparation for the event, has decided it is time to turn herself into One. Angry. Mother.

One Angry Mother

By Valerie Young

You know how the mythic ideal of the “perfect mother” requires lots of self-sacrifice, endless patience, never complaining, and loving your family every single minute?

I am so not doing that.

In fact, I think it’s time to demand a little attention for myself, rather than showering it on everyone else. I think it’s time to inconvenience a few other people, refuse to apologize, and raise uncomfortable issues. I think it may very well be time to turn myself into One Angry Mother.

And I’ll tell you why.

We have real power. But…

We are most emphatically not exercising
our power to make our own lives better
or our own families more secure.

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We do not occupy positions of leadership in sufficient numbers to affect decision-making in government, business, or academia. Women are the majority of minimum wage workers and tend to work in sectors like retail, education, and food service which pay low wages. Mothers, even of very young children, are far more likely to be in the paid workforce, and the majority of those are working full time. Most do so without a guarantee of a single paid sick day, or maternity leave, or reliable access to affordable, high quality child care.

Yet we soldier on, as the children grow up and move out, into a world that, as far as gender is concerned, remains markedly unchanged. Well, it’s just not good enough.

Why has there been so little change in how we live and work and raise our children?

Because there has been so little change in the leadership. With the exception of the current President, the faces of those in elected office, the upper echelons of business, and the ivory towers of higher education look far too similar to those of the past. Same deciders, same results.

In the words of the brand new report from the University of Denver, Colorado Women’s College:

Results reveal that women are outperforming men,
but they are not earning salaries or obtaining leadership roles
commensurate with their higher levels of performance.

~
Why? Because motherhood is seen as a liability by our workplaces, public institutions and in too much of our politics. Women with children are less likely to be offered a job, and will be offered on average $11,000 less than a woman without children. Over the course of her life she will lose hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not a million, in lost income, benefits, and retirement support.

The irony is rich, considering that without her willingness to bear and raise children, the most fundamental unit in our society and economy, everything comes to a standstill.

The current situation is intolerable.
If we don’t insist on change, our children will still be restricted by the exact same injustice.

What can we mothers do?

We may not have mountains of cash to throw at our lawmakers, like the special interests and lobbyists do. But we have their phone numbers and email addresses. We’re their constituents and voted them in. We can let them know we are paying attention and will accept nothing less than our due.

The hand that rocks the cradle also pulls the lever at the polls, and belongs to…

One. Angry. Mother.

Leave a Comment: Have you ever used your mom power to reach out to your elected officials? Do you join Valerie in her anger? Help welcome Valerie’s voice to Mothers Central and consider sharing this post with other mothers.
~

WIWAd

This is an original post contributed by NAMC Advocacy Coordinator Valerie Young.

Learn more about Valerie and keep up-to-date on important policies that promote family economic security and the well-being of family caregivers by visiting and subscribing via email to the (Wo)man in Washington blog, liking her on Facebook, and following her on Twitter.

 

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Researching Motherhood: The Faces of Mothers’ Center featuring Monica Hincken

by Kate Fineske on January 23, 2014 · 3 comments

We inadvertently become researchers of life and motherhood when we study our own as well as other mothers’ experiences and journeys.

This is the concept behind our monthly Faces of Mothers’ Center series featuring interviews with different Mothers’ Center members across the nation.

Today we are introducing you to Monica Hincken, a member of the Mothers’ Center of Southwest Nassau in East Rockaway, New York. Monica and her husband Daniel raise three children Harrison (age 9), Dylan (age 6) and Benjamin (age 4). Monica heard about the Mothers’ Center through a friend. “Words can’t even describe what the group means to me,” she says. “When I discovered them it was like finding a life raft that I so desperately needed.”

Let’s take a few minutes to find out how Monica stays afloat through her daily successes and challenges in parenting…

Monica with her daughter Dylan.

Q: What are some of your hobbies, and interests?
A: Like many other mothers, I often feel as though I have very little time for my own hobbies. Yet one thing that I love to do is read. I am obsessed with author Junot Diaz, everyone should read his books! Additionally, I don’t know if spending time with friends is a hobby… but it is my favorite thing to do with my free time.

Q: What three words best describe you and why?
A: Supportive. Compassionate. Dedicated.

I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by an amazing support system. I really believe that having a strong support system allows you to lead a life without fear because you know there will always be people to help you get back up. It’s important to me to support my family and friends in the same way.

“Having a strong support system
allows you to lead a life without fear…”
~

When I was growing up, my mom always told me to remember that you never know what someone else is going through. Be compassionate toward others even when it is difficult, this is something I use as a basic life rule and which I really hope to teach my kids.

I also consider myself dedicated to the people and things I love. I don’t give up easily and work really hard to accomplish my goals. Basically, I’m a ride or die kind of person.

Q: What is one of your biggest challenges as a parent?
A: Realizing that I can’t control everything and that my job is to guide my kids towards becoming the people they’re meant to be and not who I want them to be.

Take for example my daughter. She loves fashion and for some reason has taken to wearing mismatched socks and patterns that don’t necessarily coordinate. I made a conscious decision to not only allow her to dress in whatever way she wants to, but to praise her for it. I love her individuality! Likewise, even though my sons don’t necessarily love fashion in the same way my daughter does, I encourage them every day to pick out their own clothes. Choosing what to wear each day may seem like a small thing, but I strongly believe it allows them to literally be as comfortable as possible in their own skin.

Left: Monica’s three children Benjamin, Harrison and Dylan. Right: Family fun on the road!

Q: How has having children changed you?
A: When you’re a parent, you no longer have the option of walking away from hard things. Having children made me stronger and more courageous. When my youngest son was two weeks old, he was hospitalized with jaundice but we soon discovered he actually had liver disease. I remember feeling so scared when the doctor told us that a liver transplant was the worst case scenario, but I never doubted I could handle it.

Q: What is one of your favorite memories as a parent?
A: Bringing my third (and last) baby home and having this feeling that everything was how it was supposed to be. I’ll admit I was very unsure about having a third child and it was an amazing sensation to step into our home for the first time and feel content and happy.

~

Thank you Monica for your honest responses and for allowing us to share your personal experiences on Mothers Central.

Leave a Comment: Please help us give a warm welcome to Monica. Do you relate with any of her struggles and successes in motherhood? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Making a Difference in Children’s Lives: Peter’s Story

by Kate Fineske on January 21, 2014 · 1 comment

What if there was a little bit of Einstein in all of us?

Wouldn’t you like to know how to unlock that Einstein in your child, to understand how to release the little bit of genius and intelligence that (you know!) is hidden away? Believe it or not, too often the expression of great intelligence, ability and potential is simply locked up behind an unseen learning barrier.

No body knows this better than Dr. Shelley Pazer, the presenter of our upcoming NAMC webinar: Unlock the Einstein Inside: Sharpening Your Child’s Cognitive Skills. Through Dr. Pazer’s experiences as the Director of Learning and Development at LearningRx Jericho she has witnessed first hand how confidence, personalty and intelligence can flourish if given the right attention. Especially after she met Peter… [click to continue reading…]

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Closer Than You Think

by Kate Fineske on January 16, 2014 · 0 comments

Every election day is a struggle. I always manage to cast my vote, however stopping at the polls with three young children in tow can be (if I’m absolutely truthful) torturous. Actually, now that I think about it, even keeping up with today’s political issues can be challenging when up against everyday issues like: 5th grade Math (harder than you think!), what to feed our family of five, and deciphering who needs to be where at what time via our busy family schedule.

Admittedly, staying “politically educated” has (at times) been put on a back burner.

Today, Valerie Young, the NAMC Advocacy Coordinator, is here to share a compelling story of why politics is worth paying attention to. Maybe you should be the judge…

~

Closer Than You Think

Guest Post by Valerie Young

Mention politics to most people, and their eyes glaze over.

Who can blame them? It’s depressing, an endless display of bad behavior by self-serving and self-important stuffed shirts. And it is made to seem even worse than it is (which is already, really, quite awful) by the incessant chatter online and on screen of the media (whose appetite for something to talk about is insatiable in the 24/7 news cycle). So the feeling that politics cannot possibly bring about any positive change is understandable.

Most of the time, politics seem very far away and maybe even irrelevant to the ups and downs of normal, everyday life.

My friend Jennifer pays no attention to politics. She is (understandably) far too busy looking after her adorable 1-year-old daughter, going to college, and trying to get a part-time job. And now, in addition to this, she also has to pack up and move again (along with her mother and baby) into a different apartment.

The three of them were managing alright when Jennifer’s mother worked as a receptionist for a real estate company. However, she lost her job suddenly when her own mother (Jennifer’s grandmother) died. She had asked for time off without pay to attend her mother’s funeral. Yet her job came with no benefits, like vacation or sick time. Her time off request was denied.

Just take a moment and think about that—put yourself in that position:

You can attend your mother’s funeral, but if you do, you’ll lose your job, and that’ll be a problem for yourself, your daughter and your granddaughter (who depend on you). You can keep your job, keep food on the table, but you cannot attend your own mother’s funeral.

So, Jennifer’s mom quit her job to go to the funeral.

She’s been looking for another job, but getting one isn’t as easy as it used to be. So this little family of three women, each from a different generation, is moving to a less expensive apartment. The new apartment is farther from the community college where Jennifer goes, meaning she’ll spend more time on the road getting back and forth. Which in turn requires more child care, because her mother needs to be looking for a job (then hopefully working) and won’t be available to look after the baby.

I don’t envy her the stress of trying to reconcile the schedule of her classes, her mother’s work hours, and the child care provider’s hours—none of which she has any control over. Jennifer’s daughter has to be cared for, her mother must work, and she needs to be successful in her coursework and move on, in hopes that one day she’ll be self-sufficient.

What blows my mind about this story (which is totally true) is how one action on the part of an employer reaches beyond the office, into Jennifer’s education, all the way down to a baby’s life. You’d think the connection between the real estate office (where Jennifer’s mother worked) and Jennifer’s daughter would be so remote, they’d have little or nothing to do with each other.

But now, solving the child care problem will be driven by:

  • The location of their new apartment
  • What care is nearby
  • What the hours of that care are, and
  • If Jennifer can juggle that care with her class schedule

That’s phenomenal. It’s not really remote at all.

It’s the same with politics. It is much, much closer to us than we realize.

The people who get involved in issues and election campaigns know this, and know it is worth their time and money to influence what decisions get made. They pay close attention to who gets elected and sits in decision-making positions.

So far, the people getting elected and making these life-shaping decisions are mostly men.

In fact, they are mostly men who do not need to find child care.

And, they’re men who don’t have to ask another’s permission to attend their mother’s funeral.

Which, in large part, explains why most women do have to find child care, and depend on so many other things lining up just right in order to get to school, get to work, get to this place on time, get that thing done.

The point: Politics is worth paying attention to.

And many more of the people who get elected, and who make the decisions that have so much to do with every aspect of our daily lives, ought to be women.

They ought to be mothers.

Leave a Comment: Do you find it hard to carve out time for politics in your normal, everyday life? As a parent, as a mother, how well do you prioritize politics?

WIWAd

This is an original post contributed by NAMC Advocacy Coordinator Valerie Young.

Learn more about Valerie and keep up-to-date on important policies that promote family economic security and the well-being of family caregivers by visiting and subscribing via email to the (Wo)man in Washington blog, liking her on Facebook, and following her on Twitter.

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It Takes a Village to Beat a Vortex (Polar Vortex That Is!)

by Kate Fineske on January 14, 2014 · 4 comments

Honestly, I thought I had (what I call) “the epidemic” beat.

As a parent, I have been (fairly) guilt-free for some time now.

That’s not to say I don’t combat the occasional relapse after a few long, somewhat unbalanced, parenting-work-life days. However, those moments have lately only lasted a few hours (if that). Suffice to say, I haven’t felt the true, multiplying impact of day-after-day guilt in a long time.

That is until the unexpected recently hit.

I always forget the unexpected wildcard… the one that reminds me not-so-subtly:

“Kate, you CANNOT plan for everything.”

Put into perspective, it could have been worse. There were no illnesses, no life-threatening situations, not even an unforeseen financial woe (which is an easy culprit over the holidays). No, this unexpected wildcard was merely a severe case of cabin fever caused by mother-nature herself in the form of a “Polar Vortex”.

In short:

My kids and I had 2-blissful-weeks off work and school for the holidays…
We were ALL fully rested and ready to jump back into our everyday lives…
Only to be met by 5 more days (an entire week!) of house arrest caused by…

Dum-dum-duuuum… (sung to the tune of a villain’s entrance)

2 feet of snow, sub zero temperatures and week-long school cancellations.

No illnesses. No criminal activities. Only ice and snow.

And (children’s) boredom…
Mixed with my own stress of returning to work after a long vacation.
Plus, wa-aa-y too much electronic device time.

In addition to the fact that there were mountains of snow my kids could look at BUT not play in (due to the sub-zero temperatures)…

Oh, and (most importantly) I was back to work with: NO CHILDCARE*

*unless you count my 11-year-old

Have I drawn a complete picture yet?
Guilt was sure to find it’s way through my well-built walls.

Ultimately—it’s over now. I survived. I’ve come out (beaten but alive) on the other end. And here is what I’ve learned:

Do not take for granted the support that I do have.

  • A loving family that is always willing to help
  • Friends and a husband who listen and offer encouragement
  • The amazing childcare options I have access to (that many others don’t) on those weeks and days when we’re not face-to-face with a Polar Vortex

The truth is, until this past week I thought I was combating this epidemic of guilt all myself. Turns out, I have an ally. Wait! That’s not completely true, I have many allies—in the form of the networks of support I have managed to build. I truly have my own village of support.

I will never, ever be as naive to say I’ve single-handedly beat guilt, because I believe my greatest defense to this epidemic of guilt is: the support of others.

Leave a Comment: What supportive communities have you built for yourself and your family? How do they help you fight against the epidemic of guilt? And seriously… what did you do during the Polar Vortex?

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Did you know…

The NAMC provides Mothers’ Center group members with access to Group Discussion Guides meant to encourage reflection and conversation. The previous post was inspired by our discussion guide: Mindful Parenting. To download this guide and others, visit the members only section of the NAMC website. Not a member? Learn more about the Mothers’ Center and it’s unique culture by downloading our New Group Start-up Guide here!

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Mothers in the Workforce - An Interview with Kristie Feeback

by Kate Fineske on January 9, 2014 · 1 comment

Every family, every parent, every mother has different experiences, different career aspirations and different ways in which they prioritize their time.

To help better recognize and commend these differences, we are highlighting the lives of mothers in the workforce by asking our members questions exploring:

  • What led them to stay active in their careers
  • What support they utilize to help them navigate their way
  • How this has impacted their mothering experiences

To date we’ve highlighted two of our members: Kate Mahoney - a college graphic design professor, and Melani Denzer - an HR consultant.

Next up is Kristie Feeback, a Realtor and member of the Mothers’ Center of Greater Toledo.

Kristie and her husband Jeremy with their two Children Mia (soon-to-be age 7) and Charlie (age 5).

Q: Give us a quick timeline of your career path.
A: My career path has traveled in many directions. After my college graduation in 1996, I took a job with Jenny Craig weight loss. I was bored and unfulfilled, which ultimately led to quitting the position and starting a graduate program in Education. During my graduate studies, I picked up shifts at Nordstrom, and—to my surprise—I was quickly promoted through the company. Eventually, I decided to halt my studies to further my career at Nordstrom.

Then, in 2003 my husband and I were forced to make a decision: move forward in my current career or move back to our hometown of Toledo, OH for my husband to pursue his career. We chose the latter. My father suggested I get my Real Estate license and, after initially disregarding the suggestion, I finally “gave in” (following further persuasion from my father and brother who are also in the industry). Honestly, I never would have imagined how much I’d enjoy my path as a Realtor. I guess one could say it’s in my blood! Through every direction life’s taken since (including my leap into parenting) I’ve maintained this career path and haven’t looked back.

Q: What is the key component of your support system?
A: Plain and simple: my husband. My job is crazy—no benefits, insane hours, 100% commission—there is absolutely no way I could mange what I do without him.

Q: Looking back at your motherhood and career path, describe your hardest moments.
A: When people are buying or selling Real Estate, they are typically dealing with the largest investment of their life. My job as a realtor is to guide others though this transaction while helping them feel educated and confident about their decision. The hardest moments are when clients get so caught up in their own needs that they become disrespectful of my time (which impacts my other responsibilities as a mother, wife and daughter). You wouldn’t call your attorney at 11:00 at night or 6:00 on Sunday, why the disregard for my profession as a Realtor? On the other hand, a client can’t read my mind, so I’ve learned to talk with them up front about the hours I work and when I am taking time for my family. Learning this more direct approach was my personal and professional “Ah-ha moment”.

Q: What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier?
A: Professionally: Having the same process for every client regardless of if I know them or not is critical. Personally: Valuing my time (because no one else will) and gaining the ability to be more business-like with friends when in a business-related situation.

It definitely continues to be a struggle to maintain adequate balance between my work and my everyday life, but I’m loving the challenge and have two confident, beautiful children and one very patient husband cheering me along!

~

Each woman steps through their life differently. We thank Kristie for fearlessly sharing her own experiences and work/life journey with us here at Mothers Central.

Leave a Comment: Please help me welcome Kristie Feeback to Mothers Central by leaving her a comment and sharing her experiences with others using the social media icons below.

 

DID YOU KNOW:

The NAMC works to create a greater understanding
of good work / life policies and practices?
Get information here about our Annual Work / Life Conference

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Score One for Mom (Learning to Kick Fear to the Curb)

by Kate Fineske on January 7, 2014 · 9 comments

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Have you ever noticed that parenthood has a way of magnifying our own individual fears and shortcomings? Especially when we see our own anxieties mirrored through our child’s actions. As parents, above and beyond all else, we want what is best for our kids, and sometimes in order to model what’s best—we have to kick our fears to the curb.

The following is one mom’s tale of how she did just that…

Score One for Mom

A guest post by Teresa McCarthy

I was the kid who stayed far away from team sports.

To be more exact, I was the kid who took “special gym”. Nowadays, I’m sure there would be a more politically correct term like “OT” or “Character Development”, but back in 1981 I was known as: the girl in special gym. I was pulled out of first grade academics to have dodge balls thrown at me by the gym teacher (supposedly) to improve my hand/eye coordination.

The fact that I was not athletic nor very coordinated has stuck with me for most of my life.

Since elementary school gym I’m happy to report that I’ve excelled in many other facets of my life. I’ve also managed to participate in many physical activities, yet only as a solo act (i.e. bowling, horse-back riding, hiking, kayaking & yoga). Why? I felt I knew my limits.

The truth is, I was too afraid to join a team—even if only recreational—because I didn’t want to let anyone down with my inabilities. I still thought of myself as “the girl in special gym.”

That is, until I saw myself reflected through the eyes of my daughter. [click to continue reading…]

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Words to Live By – A Mother’s Letter by Christy Mansfield

by Kate Fineske on December 17, 2013 · 2 comments

What would be the most important wisdom you would pass down to your child(ren)?

This December, English teacher and Mothers’ Center of Southwest Nassau member Christy Mansfield is sharing her beautiful words of wisdom in a letter to her three children.

Over 8 years ago as a mother of two children separated in age by only 18 months, Christy participated in a library play event where a conversation with another mother introduced her to the Mothers’ Center of Southwest Nassau. Upon learning that the Mothers’ Center Group had a nursery AND a childcare drop off program, she recalls enthusiastically saying “Sign me up!” and thus began her long involvement in a group that’s played a big role along her parenting path—providing her with lasting friendships and a true network of support.

Christy has taught senior high school English for nineteen years. Today we feel fortunate to welcome her words as an English instructor, a mother of three and a longtime member of the Mothers’ Center of Southwest Nassau.

Christy MansfieldChristy Mansfield and snapshots of her three children: Ronan (age 9 1/2), Brian (age 8) and Shannon (age 6)

To my Children,

Before I had you, I felt teaching was the most meaningful work a person could do, until I realized that parenting is. Where would any teacher be without his or her mother? [click to continue reading…]

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