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Tips for Working Moms

Parent to Parent Tips:

 

Balancing Family Life

• Don't fight change, just plan on rearranging your sleeping and waking schedule to ensure that you get quality time for you (i.e. working out, reading, correspondence etc.)
• Force yourself to get into the habit of cleaning up, moving/folding laundry, preparing lunches, and planning breakfast every night, before you go to bed. 
• Prepare extra food on Sundays to use during the week (i.e. chop veggies and large fruits and prepare storable meals). 
• Always have crackers or other snacks and water in the car. 
• Utilize some of your lunch breaks at work to run errands (grocery shopping and post office), but also reserve some of them to refresh yourself (take a walk or eat with a friend).
• As a working mom, you need to be good at multitasking and staying organized.
• Try to make lunches the night before.
• Pick out kids outfits the night before and
• Make sure to get kids to bed early enough that they get the sleep they need.
• Work as a team with your spouse; get yourselves ready first in the morning. Wake up kids so that they have enough time to eat, get ready and play a bit before you rush out the door to daycare and school.
• Try to talk about something you will do together that night before you all go in different directions. That way, you start the day on a positive note and have something to look forward to at the end of the day.

Websites and Resources

Websites:

• WEVonline.org
• womenandbiz.com
• nolo.com
• www.score.org

Mom in the Spotlight

Shannon Yontz

Profile:
Volunteer Involvement: In the past was inolved in Junior Women's Club and MS Society. Have volunteered for school events, looking to help volunteer soon with the Alzheimers Org.
Profession: Personal Fitness and Lifestyle Coach. Co-Owner of True North Fitness & Health with husband Rob Yontz. I coach our Ventura Adventure BootCamps and Stretch-n-Grow of children's fitness program.
Education: University of San Diego, BA Certified Personal Trainer Certified Adventure Fitness Trainer Fitness Nutritionist & Youth Nutrition Specialist Youth Fitness Instructor Pediatric and Adult CPR & First Aid
Children: 1 - Step daughter Carley Yontz

Fun Q & A with our Spotlight Mom:

Personal:

What phrase or motto do you live by? We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give.

Inspiration: My Parents - they provided me with unconditional love, patience support, and trust.

If you could teach your kids one thing and have it impact them, what would it be? That they only get (1) body and they need to respect it by the food and drink that they put into it. We discuss this when I teach our segment on nutrition, of course they question what Mom & Dad do when I site certain poor choices, (i.e. dad drinks sodas) I remind them that it is Daddy's choice for his body and ask them if that is what they want for theirs?. Kids get it!

How do you measure success? At the end of the day - did I make sommeone elses day better? Did I make them smile? Feel better? etc.

Greatest Accomplishment: Getting Married!

Proudest Moment: It has been moment(s): Physical - Finishing the LA Marathon Professional - Hospitality Employee of the Year for the City of San Jose and #1 Personal Trainer for Ventura County

Biggest Challenge: Juggling taking care of my family and running a business (both at the office and home office) and making sure we have a home cooked meal!

Wildest Dream: I am living it right now!

Sport/Exercise Program: Resistance Training 3-4 times a week, Spinning 3 time a week

What would people be surprised to learn about you? That I was obese until my late 20's but have kept the weight off for over 14 years!

Where did you grow up: Newbury Park, CA

How many siblings: 3

First Job: McDonald's in Newbury Park

Childhood Ambition: To be an airline stewardess, I wanted to travel the world!

Favorites:

Favorite Local Restaurant: Jonathan's

Favorite Coffee Spot: Full of Beans

Favorite Soundtrack/song: "Everything" by Michael Buble

Favorite Movie: City Slickers

Favorite TV Show: Cooking Shows - love learning new techniques!

Retreat: Cambria

Last Book You Read: In Defense of Food

Indulgence: A glass of red wine!

Tell us about a product or item that you can't live without as a parent Patience! No seriously, I can't think of a thing.

Your Perfect Day: Every day that I wake up!

Other:

What inspires you to go to work every day? I never thought that I would be excited to get up at 4:00am but I love what I do so much! It makes me happy to see women working hard and reaching their goals and the smiles on the kids faces and their hugs!

[Business Owners] What motivated you to start your business? I would rather work 20 hours for myself than 20 hours for someone else.....

[Business Owners] What is the hardest part about owning your own business? The sacrifices that you make but they are always worth it!

[Step-Parent] Your advice/tips to other step-parents? Read every book you can about step parenting and then toss them aside and just love the kid as if they were yours!

Each month we feature a mom making a difference in our community. We want to acknowledge working moms and "stay home" moms. Suggest a mom by emailing us!

Past profiled mom...

• Lisa Corbett
• DeNai Jones
• Christa Hastie
• Maureen Kelley
• Shannon Yontz