Meet Our MOMumental Mom of the Week (October 9, 2008)

Meet Dawn, our twelfth MOMumental Mom of the week.

Name: Dawn

City: Richardson

Marital Status: married

Mom to: Two sons, 6 and 4 years old.

Occupation: Owner, Dawn Michelle Photography (www.DawnMichellePhoto.com)

What was the last movie you saw and what did you think about it?
*Vicky Christina Barcelona, the latest Woody Allen film.  Lots of beautiful people to look at, for sure.  I enjoyed the movie.  Great dialogue and interesting story.

What is sitting on your bedside table right now?
*I read a lot, so there are many books on my bedside table.  I alternate between current fiction and classics.  The Count of Monte Cristo has been sitting there for a few months, though.  It’s on my “read before I die” list but it’s over 1000 pages so is a bit intimidating.  I intend to read it, but I’ve read about 5 other books since I bought it. I’ll get there!

What was the last meal you cooked from scratch and when?
*Turkey Swedish Meatballs in the crock pot (bonus!) three days ago.

What was the best piece of parenting advice you got?  Who gave it to you?
*The best advice I ever got was to say about a billion positive things to my children to every one negative thing.

What are three products that you could not live without (e.g., your journal, your Blackberry, your facial moisturizer – anything you use constantly!)
*My camera, bike, and computer.

If you could put one product on the market that doesn’t exist today, what would it be?
*My younger child asked me if I want to have a robot that is just like me and I told him “absolutely!”  I would have this mom robot do all the housework (especially laundry) so I wouldn’t have to.

Has your definition of success changed since you became a Mom?  If so, how?
*I used to work in the corporate world where success was measured in yearly performance appraisals, so I had a decent idea of how I was doing.  As a mom, you don’t get that, of course.  I know I’m successful at being a mom is when my children kiss me and tell me they love me, when I can give them good choices so we can avoid power struggles, when we have family time that involves riding bikes together or going for a walk in the woods.  And I see success in the little triumphs in life more than I did before.

What do you do in your “me”-time?  How do you protect it?
*3 words: Mother’s Day Out.  For my me-time, I visit with friends, get a pedicure, go to the gym, take photos just for fun, or read.

How are you different today than you thought you’d be at this point in your life?
*I was a software engineer for 12 years.  I never in a million years thought I’d be a photographer and own my own business.  I love being an entrepreneur, though.  So much to learn, but it’s great to be my own boss.  Also, I had always envisioned having children at a younger age than I did (at 34 and 37).  There are pros and cons to both. My younger child was born at 34 weeks gestation and was in the NICU for 10 weeks.  He was just 13 ½” long and 2 lbs., 2 oz.  He is doing so great now, though.  But I get a little teary eyed when he learns something new, like reading, for example, because he had such a rough start.

If an expectant mother asked you “what it’s like to be a Mom”, what would you tell her?
*I would tell her that I never knew this kind of love before.  It’s something I just can’t put into words, to have a bond with them like I do.  Also, I’d tell her it’s one of the hardest jobs in the world, requiring tons of patience, self-restraint, creativity, and energy. I can’t imagine life without my two boys.  What a blessing they are!