Celebrating an Inspiring Mama

May 10, 2013 by bernhardsonbunch

Michelle and Tricia Brunton from gomom.me. Photo credit: Tracy Harvey Photography

Yesterday, I had the privilege of accompanying Michelle Noehren, CTWorkingMoms.com founder and all-around fabulous lady, to the Crystal Mall in Waterford, CT to watch her be named “2013 Most Inspiring Mom” at the mall’s awesome Mom’s Nite Out event. What a fantastic way to kick off Mother’s Day weekend! Yes, I said “weekend”. We moms deserve more than a day, alright?!

You see, we, the bloggers here at CTWorkingMoms.com, are constantly in awe of Michelle. Seriously. Not only does she put her heart and soul into raising her adorable two year old daughter and still manage to hold down a busy full time job, but she also runs this whole website on the side. Somehow. I’m secretly convinced she’s found a way to suspend time or something, because seriously? There are only so many hours in a day. Maybe she doesn’t sleep? I don’t know. I can’t explain it. But, I digress…  Read more...

A Surprise Thank You to my CTWM’s Bloggers!

Apr 30, 2013 by Michelle

I’ve been holding this surprise in and I am so excited the secret is finally out! I have a special gift for each of my CTWM’s bloggers.

Did you know that there are 25 people currently writing for this website? YES! 25 working moms that each week give a little bit of their time to write blog posts that are honest, sometimes sad, sometimes funny and usually inspirational. I really care about each one of them.

I do my best to make my bloggers feel appreciated, loved and supported as often as possible. Occasionally this means I give them gifts and today is one of those magical days! Surprise ladies!

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, it seemed like a wonderful time to say a public thank you to them for their commitment to the website and for being part of this wonderful working moms sisterhood vibe we have going. Whole Foods Glastonbury helped me out and hooked me up with bags for each them and all of the items are perfect gifts for mother’s day!  Read more...

Mom’s Greatest Hits

Mar 6, 2013 by Mary Grace

Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art

I love music. It is the one thing in life that can uplift my spirits, calm me, and remind me to take life a little less seriously. There are many recording artists out there who have given me great advice through song when I needed it most. However, there are many songs that have taken on new meaning for me now that I am a mom. Here is a compilation of those tunes that I find have been reinvented for me as a parent:

(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Rolling Stones. I can totally relate to Mick Jagger’s angst in trying to get some of whatever it is that will keep him satisfied. For the mom version, I like to sing these variations in the lyrics:  Read more...

Career Advice to My Daughter

Feb 6, 2013 by Mary Grace

Throughout my daughter’s life we will shower her with advice on everything. Whether she follows it or not, I feel it is important to share with her the lessons I have learned from my parents, friends, colleagues, and personal life experience. I had wonderful parents who loved and supported me no matter what career path in life I decided to pursue. They were immigrants. My father was a self-employed tailor and my mom perfected the art of home-making. Their beliefs were simple: hard work and compassion for others, yields reward. Despite their simple beliefs, they made us feel special and wanted nothing but the best for us. They always encouraged us to work to the best of our abilities and not let the little things get us down.  Read more...

Let’s Be Real: I Love Being a Working Mom!

Jan 5, 2013 by Throwback

On the weekend’s we “throwback” to older but still awesome posts!

Post Written by Michelle – originally published September 2011

Taking care of my new baby girl Lillian for 10 weeks was a great experience, but it only reinforced my desire to go back to my career. I missed adult interaction and using my skills and talents. While I love my daughter more than anything in the world, I also missed the life I had before she was born. I craved normalcy.

I wasn’t sure how I would react going back to work. The night before dropping her off at daycare I barely slept. I had so many conflicting thoughts. Part of me felt bad about going back to my job. I would think about the fact that someone else would get to see her smiles and coos all day and that I’d likely miss many of her milestones. On the other hand, I’d think about all the cool things I do at my job and how much I looked forward to getting back to them. I didn’t know if I would cry every morning that first week back or if I would be OK. I’ve been quite surprised by my reaction.  Read more...