name: Ashley

age: 33

current city: Memphis, TN

name: Becky Hobson

age: 33

current city: Memphis

living situation: We are the “traditional” family with 2.5 kids (the .5 being our first child – our dog). We don’t have a white picket fence but we do live in the suburbs. My husband, Thomas, and I have been married for eight years (together for 13 years). We have twin five-and-a-half-year-olds, Lauren and Andrew, who have just started kindergarten and are so much fun. Then there is Ella, our nine-year-old cocka-poo, who has lived through many moves and the era of twin toddlers (who now can actually play with her!).

occupation: middle school social studies teacher

how do you structure your time and space? The theme of our marriage would have to be TEAMWORK.  From the beginning, Thomas and I have both worked full-time so we have always split the chores, and now we split the parenting responsibilities as well. I couldn’t manage any aspects of my life without the help that he provides (and I hope he feels the same way). 

Most of my day is spent at school. I teach Economics, American Government, and Social Justice to 88 eighth graders at a Catholic school in Memphis. Despite the fact that this is a relatively new curriculum for me, I try very hard to leave my schoolwork at school. The school where I previously worked put a lot of pressure on us to be on duty 24 hours a day. I checked my email at least three times a night. I brought my computer home and worked on assignments, and (as teachers do) it was all I talked about. I discovered that this was not a life I was willing (or physically able) to live. When I started at my new school I made a promise to myself that the work would stay at school. The result was astounding. I smile now, and have more time for my kids and Thomas. “Hey I remember you!”  Putting myself before my job has made all the difference in my life. 

I grew up in a house with a stay-at-home mom, an always-at-work dad, and a pesky older brother. My mom did everything for us. We came home to an immaculate house with fresh homemade cookies on the counter and plans for a wonderful dinner. She came to all of our school events and volunteered at our activities. Holidays were special times with the house decorated to the hilt. Even pictures on the walls were replaced with holiday pictures. Because I have such fond memories of what that upbringing meant to me, I have a hard time reconciling that with how to do that for my children. I’m not much for making the homemade cookies, so we have scrapped that part. I clean my house on the weekends, but it has becomes a family chore. The kids get to dust (which they enjoy for some strange reason, but whatever), Thomas cleans the bathrooms, and I clean the floors and behind everyone else. Lauren and Andrew even like to help with cooking sometimes. We make do and try to attend as many school events as possible even if we have to take off work. The TEAMWORK thing is the only way we can survive. It works for us.

Our childcare situation is finally in a wonderful place. We no longer pay for full-time childcare for the twins. They started kindergarten at a new public school this fall, and all is well. We have a college student, Jordan, who picks them up at dismissal (since they get out an hour before my I do) and she brings them home. She is a wonderful person and an education major, who also volunteers in a local kindergarten classroom. Thomas picks the kids up if for some reason Jordan can’t do it. Thomas knows it’s harder for me to get away from work than it is for him. 

using the metaphor of seasons to describe the phases of women’s lives,

-what are the particular challenges and highlights of your current season? I decided to use Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 to describe my seasons.

We are currently in “a time to laugh.” We are finally through with the tough part of having two babies and finally have little people with real personalities and the ability to do things that we like to do. Thomas and Andrew have discovered the joys of playing Lego Star Wars together on the Playstation. They also like to go fishing and to baseball games. Lauren and I paint her nails and play Barbies, and she loves to draw us pictures. It is great fun to sit at the table at night and hear about what they did at school that day. It is so cool to see them discover information for the first time. “Did you know that an octopus shoots black ink at fish that might attack it?” I feign ignorance so she can tell me all about it. What fun!

The challenges of this season go back to that twin thing. I have a boy and girl, and they develop at such different rates in terms of both maturity and academics. It is really tough not to compare them but you just can’t do that. They also get upset when one tells what the other wanted to share about what happened at school that day. Then there is the hardest part, which includes phrases such as, “why doesn’t she have to study this over and over like I do?” With twins, I cannot simply say, “Because she’s older.”

-what season(s) preceded this one? Before now, we were in “a time to weep.” Looking back, I realize just how hard raising twins was for us at first. I have no idea financially how we were able to survive (other than on credit cards and the kindness of family). Between the children waking us, stress about work and money, and insomnia, we got very little sleep. But we made it through by trying to take care of each other as a family. I have happy memories (many happy memories) to look back on, but I am glad we survived intact.

-what season(s) might your future hold? I hope our future will hold “a time to build.” I know that things will continue to be tough as we try to raise two well-adjusted school-age children,  but I know that together we can build financially stability and strong family and marital bonds. There are a lot of exciting things ahead for the family and I know we will make it fun.

favorite family activities: We love to travel to see family who all live at least eight hours away. We have also discovered the joy of “treasure hunting” as a family. We have gotten in on the Geocaching world and have had fun using our GPS to go hunt for treasure with the kids. We also enjoy going to the zoo.

favorite solo activities: My favorite way to relax and wind down from the day is a nice hot bath and a good book. I have discovered that I love to read. I genuinely love to read! What a novel concept (get it-novel? Okay, so I am corny too). Since Lauren and Andrew were born, I occasionally recharge as a mom by taking 15 minutes to myself to just chill out. These 15 minute periods are my chance to reflect on the day and pray, especially when I am too tired, too frustrated, or too frazzled to read. 

I also like to paint, cross-stitch, and do needlepoint – anything that lets me be creative with my hands. 

source(s) of inspiration: My mom inspires me to give my children the kind of love and happy memories that I gained from my childhood. She worked really hard decorating for holidays, planning fun family things for us to do, and being there for everything. I was really sheltered, but it was during a time in my life when I didn’t really want (or need) to know what else was out there. The other source of inspiration is my friend Melissa.  She lives in the moment and is so laid back about everything involving motherhood (at least it appears that way from the outside). Her children are just a bit older than mine, and she’s sort of like the big sister with advice for age and stage. She finds good solutions to problems and is thrifty. She lets her children be themselves and discover things on their own, but she also provides a soft cushion to fall on if they fail. Despite how much she helps them be individuals, she still is a major part of their lives – making cookies for events, decorating their rooms, coming to school activities. She does all of this and is still a full-time working mom. 

best MakeShift moment: During the times when I have been home alone with twins, I have found that I can only take so much before I have to have some time of my own. The kids’ bedrooms are a safe haven for them, completely child/baby proofed. There were days when I put them in their rooms to play and sat outside in the hallway to have 30 minutes of peace to myself to read a book or just close my eyes. This might seem kind of selfish, but I think needing this kind of quick break is something that is familiar to many us.

[if you or someone you know would make a good “mother of invention,” please check out the nomination process and questionnaire located on the sidebar to your right.]

[don’t forget to enter the “the billboard bag,” giveaway on saturday’s post… now, meet erin!]

first name: Erin Condren

age: 40! Yes, 40!

current city: I live in Hermosa Beach, CA and work in El Segundo (15 minute commute).

living situation: I live with my husband, Hilary (yes, he is a man), and twin children, Kate and Finn, who will be nine on July 24th.

occupation: Business owner of erincondren.com, which offers personalized planners, address labels, stationary, et cetera; Graphic designer, creative director, and marketing maniac!

how do you structure your time and space? I started my business from home and worked every minute the kids napped and slept at night. Long nights and pots of coffee brewed at 7:30 p.m. kept me fueled until my cut off at midnight. I would then go every night at midnight to Kinkos to get my printed sheets cut down to note cards. Crazy! My husband was extremely supportive, knowing we needed two incomes to live where we do. When the babies turned a year old, I hired part-time help and shared a nanny with a friend. Carmen came twodays a week and I would work nonstop from home while she went to the park with the kids, helped with laundry when they napped, et cetera.

As my business grew, so did hours with Carmen. Eventually, I merged with a larger fine art printing business 15-20 minutes from my home, and Carmen was with us full time. We were definitely a “mommy team!” Now that my kids are in school until 3:00, I share her time with my brother’s family who lives just a block away. How lucky am I?

The balance of going back to work “full time” with kids was really tough at first. I still sometimes have a guilty pang when I see all the activities and events that we just can’t get to. On the other hand, my children are so well-adjusted and very proud of what I do. I never hear them complain. Instead, they “brag” about mommy’s office, et cetera. et cetera. Since I do own my own business, I can steal away for school plays, teacher conferences and such. I dedicate one hour every two weeks in their classroom at school. They love that! My kids are in the same class, which might go against some twin parenting “rules,” but it has made life much easier for all of us for now. At some point they might request to be in separate classes, but for now it works beautifully for all of us.

I feel like my children are very active in extra-curricular activities, but nowhere near as much as many kids. I just can’t get them all around town in the middle of the day. I’m okay with that now and have a great group of friends and family close by that can help carpool when needed. I take six kids to school every morning since I leave for the office at the same time. I love our morning commute together! Five boys and my daughter are quite entertaining as we crank up Michael Jackson tunes and play “I Spy” and “Sweet and Sour” each morning on the way to school. I sure will miss these days. Next year we will be walking distance from our school, and the kiddos will all walk together.

using the metaphor of seasons to describe the phases of women’s lives,

-what are the particular challenges and highlights of your current season? This season is SPRING! As the sun stays out longer, our family can play catch in the front yard after work and go on bike rides to dinner (with jackets!). This is my slow time at work, so I take this time to enjoy vacations with family. For spring break, we are staying in town, but going to local spots with the kids instead: Griffith Observatory, La Brea Tar Pits and more. Can’t wait.

-What season(s) preceded this one? WINTER.  My busiest time of year is the fourth quarter, which includes calendar season, Christmas cards, and more. The hours are long, and often extend to the weekends. It is hard on me to be away from my family so much, but my husband and I tag-team and have worked through it enough to make it all work. It is never easy though, and I must admit that I sometimes dread that time of year!

-What season(s) might your future hold? SUMMER. My company is on fire with new HOT ideas, and I can’t wait for longer days and more energy to make things happen. We will soon heat our pool, which means nightly swims after work with my kids — my favorite thing to do!

80’s day at Erin’s office

favorite family activities: We love to ride bikes along the beach and stop for Mexican food on the pier (which includes margaritas for mommy!). We also LOVE to tent camp!!! Yes, real tent camping…well, Condren style. My husband is an incredible cook and brings all his commercial equipment, even a deep fryer for tempura shrimp! We don’t have the typical hot dogs and chips at our camp; it’s all about the food and fun! We recently took an RV trip and decided we prefer tent camping in many ways.

Having two eightyear olds is such a joy. Life is so simple these days. The early years are all such a blur.  We just struggled and juggled to get througheach day with newborn premies. This makes us appreciate the carefree life we lead with our “grown up” kids now!

favorite solo activities: Boy, this is a tough one. I really don’t have time (nor do I make time) for much “solo” activity. My  mom tells me I never liked to be alone as a child, and I guess that still stands. I would  like to say that I read, but I really don’t make time for that either. Someday I would love to be in a book club or just pour through novels and best sellers. For now, my favorite “alone” time is spent shopping on the web. I do love shopping online and waiting for the boxes to arrive. It feels like Christmas each time, like I didn’t really spend the money — Santa did! 

sources of inspiration: I love to read home décor magazines. My favorite is an English publication called, Living, etc.  Seeing new color trends, fabrics, furniture and art always inspires me at home and in my career. I am very “trendy” and don’t spend a lot of money on my interiors at home. With small kids and a packed social calendar at “Club Condren,” it’s not worth the investment. Thumbing through the pages gives me great ideas to inexpensively update my home with an accent wall or new area rug. The trends I see in magazines are creative boosts that inspire new designs on my website too! 

best MakeShift moment: My mom taught me the trick of letting the babies play with pots and pans while attempting to cook a meal. It used to drive my husband nuts because it was so loud as they clanked lids and slammed pots on the floor (not good on wood, but who cared at that point?). At least it gave me about tenminutes to tear open a Trader Joe’s bag and call it dinner!

find erin on the web at 

• www.erincondren.com
• www.erincondren.com/blog

follow on twitter: erincondren

follow on facebook: erincondren.com