Momilies

with my in-laws, with whom we are incredibly close. We all wore the team colors – blue and gold. That day is still one of my all-time favorite memories.

SL: What was the first year of motherhood like for you? TC: The first year of motherhood was wonderful. I had the blessing of staying home, but also found a home care provider who kept Brady on Wednesdays, so I had one day a week completely to myself, right in the middle of the week. I loved having the baby, but it was amazing to have “me-time” as well, and I’m so grateful for my husband’s support in that.

SL: What do you want or wish most for your kids? TC: I wish most for my kids to find a spiritual relationship with God. My faith has kept me going in many critical situations, and I’m not sure how I could have made it through without His guidance. I want them to have that foundation so they won’t find the ground buckling under them when things get tough, and also rejoice in their faith when things are wonderful.

SL: What are some of your biggest struggles as a Mom? TC: Some of my biggest struggles as a Mom had to do with discipline. It’s a tightrope: how do you know if you were too harsh, or too lenient? I hated when I lost control of my temper and yelled at them. However, I like my kids a lot as adults and they like to be around me and my husband now, so I think we must have done alright.

SL: What would your perfect day off be like? Describe it. TC: My perfect day would be to take the entire family on a trip somewhere fun and exciting. We would spend all day outside in great weather seeing sights, and then have a wonderful dinner with lots of laughter. The specific details are all flexible, only the people are necessary for it to be a perfect day.

SL: What’s the one song that means the most to you? TC: The single most important song to me is “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns. When things are going awry in my life, I turn to this song. The most impactful lyric is “Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place.” This helps me retain perspective, and that God has a plan for my life and for my family as well.

SL: What advice would you give to your younger self about Motherhood? TC: I would tell my younger self not to fight all the battles, but to think about what your values are, and what’s important to you. Only fight for the things that matter.

SL: Is there a quote, saying, words of advice or scripture you consider words to live by? TC: I was a history teacher for a decade so I love the quote “History is the weapon with which we defend the future against the past.” But this quote goes deeper than just the classroom. It can also refer to family history. There’s a lot of hurt in families. We can use family history to make the future better, rather than perpetuating the same things into the future. When we learn from history, it changes lives on every level.

SL: If you could share a meal with any woman past, present or future who would it be? Why? TC: I would love to invite Sandra Day O’Conner, the first female Supreme Court Justice, to dinner. I would love to talk constitutional issues and politics with her—as she’s both brilliant and wise.

SL: What Mom from real-life or even TV/movies do you admire most? TC: I admire my mother-in-law, Sina, more than I can even express. She has a servant heart, and loves her family fiercely. We moved back here from Houston after two years away because we missed family so much, and a lot of that was her help with my kids. She was a kindergarten teacher, so she provided my children with incredible, educational activities and fun when I was stressed and tired. She (and my father-in-law) have attended almost every single activity for each one of my children. She called me from Australia once to apologize that they were missing a 2nd grade play! She’s also the single most faithful Christian I’ve ever met, and has mentored me on my walk with God. I don’t know if she knows how much she has impacted me over the past 30 years.

SL: At the end of a long day, what do you do for fun or relaxation? TC: At the end of a long day, I love to be able to take a bubble bath. My husband is the sweetest, and fixes a basket of goodies for me to take into the bathroom, usually berries or melon, and I take a real book with me into the bathtub. The combination of free time, self-care, and reading are just a magical combination for me. Afterwards, I am more refreshed and focused.

– Momilies Column –Would you like to answer 20 questions about motherhood and becoming a mom? If so, you could be featured here in our next Momilies column with your kids and family. Our photographer will take professional photos of you all for the article. We even give you some to keep! Please send contact info to: elena@societylifemagazine.com