Awarding Winning Mom Moment

Being a mom, for the most part, can be a series of Mundane Moments. Cooking, cleaning, driving, potty training, rocking children to sleep, reading stories, night time feedings, changing diapers, confiscating cell phones, putting children in the corner, getting them to mass, disciplining, nagging them to get their home work done or rooms cleaned; encouraging them to develop their God given potential, to pray, grounding them, doing laundry, sweeping, enforcing curfews -- each of those things individually can take their toll.

Rarely, do we get recognition in the traditional sense. You know, the kind you get at 'work' - bonus cheques, certificates of achievement, team meetings, travel perks, promotions, or exquisite lunches in the finest restaurants.

I remember, when I left the the workforce for a time, to be a full time stay at home mom  -- I did, at times look back on the consulting assignments, speaking engagements, international travel, the five star hotels, all of the perks; sometimes thinking,

"Surely, I could be using my time in a more important way. I have so many gifts, so many talents, why am I staying home again?  Someone, please remind me!"

I was deeply conflicted and utterly satisfied at exactly the same time. I experienced what some psychologists called, double feel. Feeling two things at exactly the same time! While some of the mothering moments were not particularly gratifying, like trying to get a new born to latch, or a toddler to leave the park...

I could NOT, for the life of me imagine, surrendering those tasks to anyone else! I was loving it too much!

I just couldn't. It was not in my genetic make-up.

All the forces in heaven and on earth, could not convince me to jump on a plane to do business in another city and leave the care of my children to someone else. 

I just could NOT do that.

I did miss the workforce, I did miss the recognition, 
I missed the money. But the love for my children and my work with them and through them was transforming me to somebody completely different. The person I was, was no longer, the adventure, mesmerizing. And again, I loved it.

I couldn't understand exactly why l loved it, but I knew with all of my being, that that's why I existed.

I remember very vividly one day, picking Cheerios up off the floor, thinking, 

"Has my life come down to this? Picking up Cheerios?"

I had never worked harder in my life, with so little recognition, but it was the most rewarding thing I had ever done, precisely because it was hidden work.

Being an inspirational speaker & trainer, I often got tons of recognition, it was now for the most part gone. 

While a child's smile, a ballet concert, a delightful comment, a cooing baby or a glorious hug can replenish moms during the toddler and yes, even elementary years, there comes a time, where we all say to ourselves,

"Surely, there has to be more to life than THIS!"

Mothering teens or a two year old, can at times, be particularly exhausting. 

So, I like to capture the moments that I feel like an 

                            Award Winning Mom.

My daughter who is  now a university student and part time cashier, told a story the other day that made my heart soar.

"Mom, this guy today, bought about 20 different things out of the freezer section today. I said to him, 

'What are these? They must be good, since you are buying so many of them?' 

"Mom, the man was astonished, 

He replied,

 'They are TV dinners! Surely your mom must give those to you from time to time, when she doesn't feel like cooking!'

"No, we always have a home cooked meal. We might order a pizza once in awhile, but no. I have never had a TV dinner. My mom cooks dinner every night."

Well, apparently the man was flabbergasted, he shook his head. Apparently, he couldn't believe his ears.

My teenage daughter looked at me and said,

"Mom you are amazing! You have done such a great job with dinner!"

Just when I thought nobody noticed, I concluded that,

"Yes, this is an Award Ward winning moment."

In the silence of my heart, turned my heart to Our Lady and thanked God for giving me the grace and the courage to follow the promptings in my own heart! I thanked God for the privilege of taking the time I did to raise my children!

Just for the record, please do remember, the work you are doing is tremendously valuable in more ways than one.

Raising Teenage Girls Tough on Mom & Daughter

Let's face it, we live in a crazy culture. It's a time where our girls are getting an onslaught of very powerful and destructive messages from everywhere.

Fighting off a culture that is trying to rob our daughters of their childhood, their innocence and their dignity is no easy task. This short video does an outstanding job helping you see the onslaught of messages a young girl receives.

Having a great mother/daughter relationship is more important NOW then ever.

Here is a piece I wrote for the Catholic Register on the very topic. CLICK HERE  The report prepared by the American Psychological Association is a powerful read too!
CLICK HERE 

Here is a great article that talks about the importance of the mother daughter relationship! 


I would love to hear from you!

How do you deal with these challenges? 

I have often given talks at mother daughter events, both at schools and parishes. 

CLICK HERE for a description of the talk

Don't Miss this event!

CLICK HERE for the more information on the
CALLING ALL GIRLS EVENT on April 11. 2014

Extra Ordinary Parenting Tip

Taught by a Teenager

Yesterday,  my teenage daughter came home holding several grocery bags. She plopped them on the kitchen table and disappeared.


It was around dinner time. 
I had been up since 5:30am.
I was exhausted and overwhelmed.

I had spent the morning delivering a workshop out of town. The rest of my precious Saturday was spent cleaning, trying desperately, to get some semblance of order in the house. 

So, when yet ANOTHER thing on the kitchen table, I got agitated. 

In one bag, there was baby food. Not just a little bit of baby food, but about 30 jars. I got confused. My perplexity, confusion and agitation began to show. In fact, you could even hear in it my voice and see it in my mannerisms.

There are no babies in our house and our house does not have that much storage space.

I began to simmer. 

Do you ever get like that around dinnertime?

As, my investigation continued, I found that the second bag had loads of deodorant and toothpaste.

Immediately, I thought,

"Where am I going to store this stuff? What is THIS? What in the world is SHE thinking?"

Remember, we do not have a lot of storage space in this house.

I forget exactly what I said to my daughter, but I am sure that the tone or words might have been a little 'off.'

And then SOMETHING happened. 
Something BIG in the mothering world.

My teenage daughter looks at me and says:

"Mom, I was trying to do something good. 

Why do you have to turn something 
                      GOOD into something BAD? 

Since our store is closing, 

(she is a part time cashier at a local grocery store)

everything is 50% off. 

I thought we could give the baby food to 
Dr. Simone's charity. 

I thought it might be handy to have some extra deodorant and shampoo in the house. 

I was trying to do something good. 

Why are you turning it into something bad, why mom?" 

I could deeply sense she was struggling, doing her utmost not to offend me by challenging me,

I sensed this young woman's voice was trying to be heard and understood. 


Admittedly, I was humbled. 

I love this girl to pieces! 

I am so proud of who she is becoming.

I see now, through writing this post that

I really do need to apologize. 

But more than that, I really need to discipline my mind and emotions to focus on the GOOD. 

All too often, as wives and mothers, we let our minds drift instead of lifting them up to Christ.

It is another healthy reminder that I need to pray always without ceasing; at the sink, at the kitchen table and in the laundry room too!

Has anything like this ever happened to you? 

I would love to hear about it.

Have you ever been taught be a teenager?

Mark Wahlberg - Catholic Hollywood Actor

My husband just showed me this video.

All I can say is WOW! 

Why pray when you are a successful Hollywood actor? 

Is being Catholic relevant in today's world? 




Is there supernatural power in the sacramental life?

Can a priest make a hugely positive difference in one person's life? You have to watch this! 

Please do share it with your friends!
Looking to stay motivated?
Watch it again and again! 

Here is a picture of his family too!

“My faith has really allowed me to overcome a lot of things — and hard work. You know, nothing comes easy…especially when you’ve got your back against the wall and you’ve got a lot going against you,” he told Morgan.

“But I wanted to prove to people through my actions — not my words — that I was going to change and that I was going to make a positive impact on the community that I come from,” Wahlberg continued, as he delved into the activities he participates in to help those in need. ”I could not forget about where I came from and find myself in this position without helping and giving back.”

I definitely go to church every day,” he said. “That’s how I start my day. I like to get in there for about 15 or 20 minutes — say my prayers.”

“I pray to be a good servant to God, a father, a husband, a son, a friend, a brother and uncle, a good neighbor, a good leader to those who look up to me and a good follower to those that are serving God and doing the right thing,” 

For a great article CLICK  HERE.