This post is a part of a blog series of stories of the working mom. I’m excited to share 13 stories from real working mothers. I also really would like to hear YOUR story and I’d love to hear it. Keep the conversation going in the comments & on social media using #wellcraftedworkingmoms. A huge thank you to the women who volunteered to share their stories, Mary Boyden of Mamma Bear Magazine for her photography and Madeline Roosevelt for hair and makeup!
I met Erin a few years ago through an acquaintance and was thrilled when she volunteered to be a part of the working mom project. Getting to read through her experiences has really been a joy. I hope you enjoy getting to know Erin and reading about her experiences as a working mom!
Meet Erin, a working mom
Erin Rhodes is a wife of eight years, a mother of two children and a teacher. Her daughter is three years old and her son will be turning three months old this week. She also has a fur baby of nearly five years, a Basenji. Erin and her husband had trouble conceiving and then experienced two high risk pregnancies. She considers her children true blessings.
She said that she is absolutely living her dream.
“I love that I am living my dreams everyday. Ever since I can remember I had three dreams, 1- be a wife 2- be a mom 3- be a teacher. Now that I have it all I get to live it all everyday!”
A typical work day in the life of a teacher and mother of two
A typical work day for Erin Rhodes begins at five in the morning where she gets a little ‘me’ time before the family wakes as she gets ready for her day. She likes to arrive to the school where she teaches third graders by 6 AM so that she can leave as close to 3:30 as possible. She takes advantage of her ability to work better in the mornings when fresh rather than later in the day when feeling drained.
“I try and get our dog out for a run before picking up the kids. This is great for her as well as me. I love this transition time, where again I get to just be me and decompress from being a teacher and prepare myself for ‘mom’.”
After her run she picks up her kids by 5 in the evening and begins the family dinner, play, bedtime routine. Steve, her husband, works three to four nights a week and on those evenings she does the night time routine on her own. She typically gets her daughter ready for bed first and then puts her son down for the evening while her oldest reads books. She then turns off her daughter’s light and calls it a day. At the time of this interview Erin had yet to do the work and nighttime routine for both kids as she was on maternity leave.
When my kids are adults and look back at their childhood, I want them to know…
“That they can have it all too.”
Erin had a fantastic example of a working mother and she feels that that example has helped share how she hopes her children look back on her working.
“I remember my mom worked a full time job my entire childhood, even traveled for several years. Because of this she we were able to go on vacations and live in a nice house. I also remember that she made time to take me to soccer practice and came to all my band concerts and plays. She made time for the special assemblies and field trips.”
Her working now has helped her understand her mother a little better as well, “I never understood why she hated the question ‘What’s for dinner?’ right as she walked through the door at night…now I totally do.”
Erin continued,”I want my kids to remember me working how I remember her working. That it is possible to follow a passion and provide a great life for your family, while still being there for the important moments. I want them to know that my passion for my job doesn’t take away from my passion for them.”
Maternity Leave, Childcare & Mom Guilt… oh MY!
I absolutely had to ask a few questions about some of the topics that often come up for the working mom such as maternity leave, childcare, and the challenges & joys of working. I love the answers so much that I felt it was best to just put it in their own words. Read on to learn about the ups, downs, ins and outs of Erin’s working mom experience!