Archive for kids
Team Hoyt – A true story, and inspiration, of parental love
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday I had a chance to tell my 7 yr old the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, the amazing Father/Son team that has been running Boston Marathon’s, among other races, for years. It’s a story that has always grabbed my attention and my heart. What I found, though, is that I got so choked up trying to tell my daughter the story that I couldn’t continue! Of course, all it went straight over her head and she just wrote it off as “mom being weird”. She sees this kind of emotion from me whenever a movie, or even a commercial, really hits at the core of what’s important to me. And believe me, there’s nothing more important to me than my kids. That’s why I am full of awe and admiration when it comes to the Hoyts. Would I do the same, if our situations were reversed? I would like to think to so. I hope so. But one can never know until faced with the same daunting challenges.
What about you? Are there other families, like the Hoyts, who you admire and can share their stories here? Or, more simply, do you find yourself amazed at how a movie, book, or even sappy commercial can sometimes move you to tears?
Mom Story of the Week (2/06/09) – What’s Yours?
Posted by: | CommentsOur Mom Story of the Week is from Christie Arseneau, recent winner of our Road Warrior contest and a copy of our new book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip. Here’s an update on Christie’s latest adventure:
From Christie:
So, here is the conclusion of my trip to Michigan last week. I was in Muskegon, thinking that I could catch the earlier flight but ended up staying as the work with the client went just a little too long to catch that flight. That was OK, I figured I still had a seat on my normal flight. When all was done, and I was at my “bingo-fuel” time (pilot speak – the point at which a pilot either has to continue on to their destination or turn around and go back to where the nearest airport – either you “go” on or you “no go” and turn around to go back) and I had to go. Read More→
Mom Story of the Week – What’s Yours?
Posted by: | CommentsBelow is our Mom Story of the Week, from reader and recent winner of my children’s book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip, Christie Arseneau. The Story of the Week is becoming a regular feature on this blog, with Christie and other mom’s tales of heartache AND triumph as they balance work and personal lives, on the road and even at home. What’s your story?
From Christie:
So, the story of the week is the heart-melting good-bye wave. My daughter, 13 months old today, will on and off wave good bye to people. She’s gotten in the habit of waving bye-bye when she goes to bed, but won’t wave bye-bye to perfect strangers (probably a good thing that I shouldn’t encourage, but it is just so darn cute!). Whenever she waves, it’s usually on cue with the suggested “wave bye-bye, baby!”.
This past Sunday morning, I was leaving on a business trip from Houston to Muskegon, MI. The baby and my husband were packed in the car and dropped me off at the airport (side note – if time allows for it, this is a great strategy for a working mom. You get more face time in with the spouse and you get to see the baby until the last moment when TSA kicks the parked car out of the Departure unloading zone!). As we pulled up to Departures, the baby was sound asleep in the backseat. Of course, I wasn’t going to ignore the sleeping baby and not kiss her good-bye, so I gently opened the backdoor and leaned down to give my little angel a kiss. Just as I was leaning over her, she opened those beautiful big brown eyes and smiled. Up came her little hands and she wave “bye-bye”. I kissed her, wiped away my tears, kissed her again and closed the door. As the car was driving off, I could see the little hand waving from the back seat…. This was the first time she’d ever waved bye-bye to me on a business trip. My heart melted in a giant puddle right then and there.
When I get back on Friday night, I will see her again – I would’ve seen her sooner in our normal round of Peek-a-boo Skype, but the home web cam was acting up. I’m sure that she’ll be there, just after security looking through the crowds for mommy. She’ll smile at some strangers, and bury her head acting all shy to other strangers. But the biggest smile and cutest wave will come only to me….! Till Friday night, I’ll have visions of “bye-bye” for now.
Wanted: Road Warrior Mamas and their War Stories
Posted by: | CommentsI love being a woman for many reasons, but one of the highest on the list is because of the way women are so open to sharing information. I rarely come across a woman, in business or my personal life, that holds her cards close to her chest to maintain a competitive advantage. On the contrary, I find the women who give their knowledge, contacts, and recommendations freely are typically the most successful women I know.
Today, I’d like to start hearing from our Road Warrior sisters and the challenges they’ve faced in trying to balance a career that requires travel with kids at home. What was one of your most heartbreaking moments? How did you get through it? Is there something you now do, either before you leave or while you’re away, to keep connected with the family?
On December 19th, I will select one of the most dramatic stories posted here and give the woman who wrote it a free copy of my children’s book, My Mommy’s on a Business Trip (you can read more about the book at www.mommytrip.com). I will also compile the tips and post them to my website, www.dolcevitawoman.com. You don’t have to be an official Road Warrior to submit a story. Often, it’s the kids whose parents don’t travel much that are most effected by the occasional trip or two.