Mom of the Week - Anya!

Name: Anya Clowers, RN
Forum Name: JetWithKids
Children: 1 son (4 years old)
Pets: No pets
Where are you from? Northern California
What do you do for a living? Registered Nurse, Travel Expert, Author, Consultant, Speaker
What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Travel
Favorite Book: Rick Steves' guidebooks!
Favorite Food: Chocolate
Favorite Place To Be: Airport
Hidden Talent: Relieving chronic/acute pain through bodywork

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I research travel solutions in the medical, juvenile, senior, and travel markets. I then consult with manufacturers, inventors, and PR firms on implementing these products into the travel industry. With this information, I also lead travel seminars educating niche travel groups (active seniors, special needs, family, business, etc.) to be self-sufficient and prepared for life away from home. I wrote the guidebook Jet With Kids to assist parents and grandparents who travel with young children. In the book, I cover the small, essential details about taking the family to 37,000 feet. My son and I fly monthly meeting with industry experts and researching. This week we are flying to Europe where I will research medical issues on cruise ships, working with the personnel on a Mediterranean cruise. My family will then enjoy the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria.

Advice for other Mom's:Traveling (and flying) with kids is only a nightmare when not prepared. Involve your children at an age appropriate level. Airports and airplanes are fascinating when you have time to relax and enjoy them. Time and flexibility are essential to a positive experience. Pack the carry-on to cover the needs of the entire family for 24 hours. Respect others. And breath. Kids (even babies) pick up on anxiety. There will always be someone who wants to tell you about their awful experience with kids on planes, but there are many more kids who enjoy travel and do it well! Everyone told me I wouldn't travel so much when I had a child. My son will have visited 15 countries by the time he enters kindergarten. I learned something valuable - most people who discourage you, aren't comfortable themselves with travel. Traveling with my son have been some of the best memories in my life!

Mom of the Week - Denise!

Name: Denise T.
Forum Name: Denise_Anne
Children: Shayne Olivia Taylor, age 2

Pets: none.. yet
Where are you from? Saskatoon, SK
What do you do for a living? I am a stay-at-home mom
What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time? read, write, listen to music.. sleep
Favorite Book: Memoirs of a Geisha
Favorite Food: Mexican food... yum
Favorite Place To Be: anywhere as long as I am with good ppl, like my family
Hidden Talent: I can fit my whole fist in my mouth :)

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I come from a small town, Borden..I mean SMALL I graduated with 4 ppl... I moved to S'toon in '03, had a few bartending/serving jobs until '05 when I got a job at Fajita Willys, where I met my fiance, Jody. In Oct. '06 we had Shayne. And in Sept. '09 we are getting married. They are the best things to ever happen to me. I don't know what I'd do, or where I'd be w/o them.
Advice for other Mom's: Never be too proud to ask for help when you need it; but in that same note.. don't take advice from people who don't have kids.

Mom of the Week!

Meet our new Mom of the Week, Carissa!

Name: Carissa Ahlstrom
Forum Name:
Children: (how many, ages) I have one wilfull 20 month old son named Cainen. Everyday he shows us the beauty of childhood.
Pets: (what type, how many) We have an adorbale Chihuahua named Kami and a sweet black cat named Uno.
Where are you from? Originally born and raised in Phx. AZ.
What do you do for a living? I work at home with a great team of women called Motivated Mom's. We show mom's how to make a supplemental income from home and introduce families to a healthier home through non-toxic products. I have been with Motivatd Mom's for 5 months now, and love what I do!!!
What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Travel. We live overseas so any extra time we have we spend traveling throughout Europe!
Favorite Book: Pillars of the Earth -Ken Follet
Favorite Food: True Italian!
Favorite Place To Be: Home with my energetic son and the best man for me, my husband Daniel.
Hidden Talent: Writing. I love to write poems and about life.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: We are an Air Force Family stationed in Italy. We will be moving to D.C. where my husband will be with the Presidential Logistics Squadron. I am a stay at home mother, and we hope to adopt and have another child soon.
Advice for other Mom's: Take a moment everyday to enjoy your childs smile and laugh. See the world from their eyes.

Mom of the Week

Our first Mom of the Week is Rachel P! Read more about her below and feel free to make any comments below!

Name: Rachel Leah P
Forum Name: Rachelp4
Children: (how many, ages) 2 boys: Donovan-3 and Isaac-2
Pets: (what type, how many) We don't have any pets.
Where are you from? I am from central CA (Atwater, Merced and Planada)
What do you do for a living? Besides being a busy mommy, I work part-time as a teacher's aide at Joyful Noise Preschool.
What's your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Spare time, what is that?! I do enjoy cooking, reading to my kids, cuddling with hubby, and just being with my family!
Favorite Book: The Holy Bible.
Favorite Food: Anything pasta is my faze now.
Favorite Place To Be: At home.
Hidden Talent: Making boo boo's better!!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am 28 and the mother of 2 adorable, active boys. My husband, Jesse, and I have been married for 4 1/2 years. We would like to have more children, maybe a girl!! : ) I enjoy my job as a mommy and at the preschool and it keeps me busy 24/7.
Advice for other Mom's: Enjoy the young ages of your children, no matter how tough it seems. They grow up too fast (I can't believe mine are 3 and 2 already).