The Life of a Mom!

Chief Everywhere Officer

by Jodie Lynn

The life of a Mom is intense, but also incredibly rewarding. Here are just a few of her many responsibilities. You can probably add several of your own.

The life of a Mom means:

I am a cook: I try to cook healthy meals for my family, select fresh produce, veggies and plan for the best choices.

I am a judge: I evaluate options for my family. I evaluate others and look carefully at the people, places and things that come into contact with my kids, husband and myself. I look for the best schools, teachers, books, games and activities for my children. I am Mom CEO.

The life of a Mom means:

I am a nurse: I run cold water over cuts, gently clean off scrapes with a soft washcloth, and a good topping of appropriate medicine, and carefully cover it with a band-aid. I look down throats, inside ears, eyes and some places, I cannot mention here, just to be sure my kids are healthy.

I am a bottle washer: I wash the dishes, pots, and pans. I also wash my windows, and sometimes, my car. I am Mom CEO.

I am a house cleaner: I dust, vacuum, pick up things that are scattered here and there. I clean and scrub toilets, bathtubs, showers, shower doors, mirrors, carpets and everything in-between.

I am a bottom, mouth and nose wiper(not necessarily in that order).

The life of a Mom means:

I am a cheerleader: I cheer on my kids and my husband to be the best that they can be and try to lift their spirits as far into the sky as possible. I am Mom CEO.

I am a bookkeeper: I put money in and take money out of the checking and saving account. I balance the budget and the checkbook.

The life of a Mom means:

I am a scheduler: I schedule pick up times, practices, games, activities, school functions, dance classes, baby-sitters, dentist and doctor appointments (and on and on).

I am a chauffeur: I drive my kids everywhere, everyday for everything. I also drive a carpool and drive other kids around. I am Mom CEO.

I am a teacher: I teach my kids how to be responsible individuals in things that they say, do and live by. I teach them to be polite, fair, and caring and to complete their chores with pride. I teach them about God.

I am a diaper changer, volunteer, member of the PTA, wife, lover, mother, playmate, friend, referee, sister, grandmother, aunt or step-mom.

I am not validated, therefore I stay in a state of depression and am distressed most of the time. I cover it up with food, clothes, shopping, make-up and/or working like a robot stuck in third gear. I can feel sad, glad, hyper, sexy, loving and lifeless all in the same hour. I am so many other things that it would take several pages to fill if I were to write down every single thing I do each hour, day, week and year.

The life of a Mom means:

I am the real CEO in life and deserve that title before anyone else but no one seems to care or even believe me. I am overworked, underpaid and certainly underappreciated. I get not one drop of respect for doing my job. The media and society in general, including other moms, think that Motherhood is not a REAL career.

I am a Mom CEO and I will begin to believe this with all of my existence. I will write, wear and think the CEO title just as the other great ones do. I will refer to myself as a CEO in conversations with others and claim validation through my title by spreading the word that moms are the real CEOs in life.

I am a Mom CEO, CEO Mom, Mommy CEO. I am a CEO of Household, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Everywhere Officer, a Chief Everything Officer.

I already act the part, fill the shoes and do the job. If I believe it, so will society and the media. I can help other moms feel comfortable with this title and help them to celebrate who we are.

I say: "It's about time!"

About the Author: Jodie Lynn, Internationally syndicated parenting/family columnist of Parent to Parent, author and Parent/Family Educator.

Jodie's outlook is that parents are the 'real' experts and they get a platform in her Parent to Parent column. Her latest book is Mommy-CEO: Five Golden Rules, REVISED EDITION.

Lynn originated the term Mom CEO� and Mommy CEO� (and CEO MOM�) in 1989, and all implications in honoring "balance in the life of moms/women" in print since 1996 as the real CEO of Household�.

Jodie's philosophy in life: ALL MOMS ARE WORKING MOMS and have earned the CEO title long before anyone else!