What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

The most rewarding parts of being a mom are the unsolicited things: times as their confidante, the hugs, the ‘favorite dinner’ requests, the reactions to seeing me in the crowd. It’s the trust that they have in me to be for them, and knowing that they will go into the world one day with confidence and kindness.

What is one memory of your kids that you will never forget?

I will never forget when my kids refused to go home when I was in the hospital after delivering my last daughter. It was a complicated delivery and unexpected. Both our lives were saved, and although my babies didn’t know it, they knew it was a little early for Liberty to arrive. They came to the hospital everyday and stayed until I coxed them to go with promises we would be home soon. ‘Good nights’ were an hour long, and they would snuggle us in the hospital bed until the nurse kicked them out.

What would you do with $20,000?

I am a federal employee in ‘limbo’ right now. I helped people with disabilities. I was the primary income for our family since my husband isn’t able to work full time (disabled combat veteran). I would use the 20k to get us ahead of a few mortgage payments, donate money to our favorite local non profit, and take a small vacation with the kids. A family of 6 is an expensive vacation now, but this money would help us not only afford it but enjoy it.