One Secret to a Working Mom Success: Celebrate the Seasons With Traditions

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Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together. Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world. "Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world."— Susan Lieberman   Traditions have a way of defining a family, provide stability and give hope. They are especially important for woking moms who spend so much time working to provide for their family that they may miss some of the "traditional" mom things like bake sales, volunteering at the book fair, and a host of actual and seemingly made up holidays.  They are also important for families trying to reinvent themselves in the wake of d...
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Working Mom Tip: Always Show Up

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"[L]uck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often." -Bryan Tracy (author)
Last Friday it was over 90 degrees with about 80% humidity. And of course it was the day that my family was scheduled to take photos to be considered for an upcoming ad campaign. 

Often, I wear my hair back, especially on days like that one. However, I had a bit of a predicament. Having my hair pulled back can photograph like I'm nearly bald. Also, the he casting agency requested a casual look. And as my husband often reminds me, my bun screams uptight librarian and not casual, fun mom.

We had a photo shoot scheduled on the most humid day of the year!


Let me paint this picture. I struggled to find an outfit that was casual enough for the shoot yet work appropriate. Also, remember, it was hot as hell. So, there was no way I was wearing jeans. I opted for a skirt and top. But I wondered whether I had made the right choice. 

Then the was the issue of our kids' outfits... My husband got our son ready for daycare that morning, forgetting about the shoot. For some reason, he put on the shortest possible shorts--they were so short they bordered on indecent. He also put on a striped shirt that matched nobody else.

We Didn't Look Our Best, But We Completed the Shoot Anyway


I could have corrected the error. However, we were all riding in one car because mine was in the shop. And as is the case when I am doing anything with my husband, he was stressing me out. So, our son remained in the too short shorts and striped shirt that matched nothing anybody else was wearing. I tried to salvage our sons outfit later when my husband was at home changing before the shoot. However, despite my instructions and him picking out the requested clothes, he left them at home...

 I was thought about cancelling the shoot. However, I knew that we wouldn't have gotten picked if we hadn't shown up. So, I decided to go through with it. So, I followed my sister's advice. She told me to think about how much I love my family and to portray that in the photo. I followed her advice and despite the hair, we were hired! 

 Lesson: Sometimes, you just have to show up!





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