Industry - Manufacturing

A Little Bit About Our Family

My husband Jerrad and I have been married since 2003. He works for Yellow as an IT professional. Our daughter, Lauryn (18), started college at the University of Arkansas this Fall where she is majoring in Exercise Science. Our son, Hayden (15), is a sophomore in high school. He enjoys playing baseball, lifting weights and hunting. I have always been a very involved mom…swim team president, dance team president, etc. I put aside my own hobbies so I could be all-in for my kiddos.

My Motherhood Journey

I was 31 when I got married, so my husband and I decided to start a family quickly. Our daughter was the first grandchild on both sides of the family, so it was a very exciting time. The births of both of our children are my two most memorable moments. I can remember all the small details of those two days in my life and they stand out because they truly were miraculous events, surrounded by more joy than I ever could have imagined.

I have learned every stage has its challenges, but the good days far outnumber the bad. It is important to appreciate something about every stage of your children's lives because it never lasts long. I try to share this with my friends who have young children now. Having a daughter who just started college brings new meaning to "the days are long, but the years short".

When my kids were young, one of the hardest things I had to work through was the “working mom guilt”. Many of the women in my neighborhood were stay-at-home moms and were volunteering at school every week or taking lunch to their kids or having afterschool play dates. It was hard for me to have to tell my kids I couldn’t always attend a school party or short event. Looking back, I believe social media contributed significantly to my guilt and I wish I had been able to better explain this to my kids rather than just saying "sorry".

Balancing Career and Motherhood

I have been fortunate to always have the strong support of my husband, who at times did more than his share of the work at home, as my hours were usually more demanding. I have also been blessed to work for a company which values work-life balance and supports their working moms. And I would not have been able to get through the tough times without my other mom friends. For many years, the women on my street have said “it takes a cul-de-sac” to raise our kids. We have truly bonded together and helped each other out more times than I can count. In addition, they are all working moms and they have been my lifeline. One in particular is my morning walk buddy and the 30-45 min we share together is more about mental health than physical.

Approximately 10 years ago, an opening became available at Huhtamaki, which would have been the next logical step in my career, but I chose not to apply because my children were still young and I did not feel it would be easy for me to travel. For me, it was about putting my family first and making them the priority over my career. It never felt like a sacrifice to me.

The role I am currently in is the most challenging thus far and I am still adjusting to more work hours than usual. I’m struggling to find time to focus on my health, which is something I truly need right now (after gaining weight during the pandemic). I hope this will change as I settle into the role and I am working on better time management too.

Looking Forward

My oldest just left for college and it is an adjustment for all of us. However, I am trying to focus on all the wonderful days ahead for her rather than being sad about her being gone. I’m also looking forward to getting some additional one-on-one time with my son. We have so many memories to make in the next few years with both of them that I can’t help but be excited. Interacting with your kids more like adults is a very enjoyable phase. Their continued success is an indication we have done our jobs as parents.

Coming out of the pandemic, I have found I am a bit less social than I used to be. As a result, I am learning to say 'no' more often and to put focus on my own priorities rather than trying to please others.

Final Thoughts

I have always had a strong network of working mom friends, but looking back, I think we failed to talk about how hard this juggling act can really be. (I fault social media for this – the pressure to always put on a perfect picture). And while my company has always been a supportive place, I think we could have had some resource groups or other support networks in place for working mothers.  

The work Mom Mastermind is doing is so fabulous and a much needed resource for working moms! I wish I had had access to something like this in the earlier years of motherhood and career. I am thankful for the work they are doing to support all of my fellow moms.