A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

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Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.
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Random Acts of Kindness: Present given to co-worker

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A co-worker lost her mother recently. I contemplated giving her flowers, but in true Chaton fashion, time got away from me. Here it was 4 weeks later and I hadn't given her any flowers. What to do?!

Well luck sometimes makes your life very easy. I ran into my co-worker at TJMaxx one day and she was looking for a particular purse, which she never found. As luck would have it, I found the purse at another TJ Maxx a couple of weeks later.

Given the price of flowers, the purse seemed like a great deal. So, I gave her the purse with the following note:

"I was going to give you flowers, but those fade so fast. So, I decided to give you something that was built to last. Your assistance is always valuable. And your stories give me a lift. So please accept sincerely, this humble gift. May God continue to provide you with strength during this difficult time."

The look on her face was priceless. She was truly surprised. And I was happy to be able to give her something that would be a constant reminder that people are out there to support her, even when she doesn't expect it.
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