October’s Inspiring Mom

Caroline J of Arlington Heights, IL.

In addition to having the round-the-clock responsibilities of a mother of four, Caroline also volunteers as a teacher’s aid at her childrens’ school and serves as a Cub Scout Den Mother.

What advice do you have for other Moms?

“Take care of yourself first, if you are tired and rundown you aren’t going to have the energy to take care of your most important people � your family. Decide what little things make you happy and do them. Is it fitting in a work out a few times a week? If it is, make sure you do it. You’ll be more focused on your kids if you fit some personal time in.”

How do you make your kids feel special?

“I have four kids, so sometimes I feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to take care of everybody. I do try to take a concentrated 15 minutes alone with each child everyday. This is a time when I can listen to their concerns and just be with them. I try to learn when each child is receptive. My oldest isn’t talkative after school, so I leave him alone when he gets home and try to connect at bedtime. I also try to call attention to the little good deeds they do. If my 3 year old dresses herself, I praise her in front of everyone.”

Tips on making it through the day

“I try to keep everything simple. I don’t have many toys around, and I try to keep ‘stuff’ to a minimum. We constantly are weeding out our things and taking them to Goodwill. Things are much calmer when we aren’t tripping over toys we never play with. I also try to always get a good night’s sleep, and get up a little earlier than the kids so I can have a quiet cup of coffee before we jump into the day. Fresh air is a must too. Everyday, rain or shine, we try to get a little fresh air and exercise.”

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