The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 1st Issue | Page 12

Be sure to follow us Interview some classes about starting a business, as well as appointments, extracurricular, some CHAT Bag talk to various professionals about various aspects work when I can, and much more. I try to slow of opening and running a business! Also, social it down on the weekends, especially Sundays for media has been such a help in getting CHAT Bag church and precious down time with family. out there! We have been online for 2 years and have sold in 40 states and 6 countries! Do you have any awards or recognitions you want to share? What was the biggest struggle you encountered when starting your business/charity? The thank you’s from parents, therapists, teachers are my awards. I am so grateful that CHAT Bag I would say the biggest struggle for me was patience. Sometimes I wanted to hurry up and move on! I tend to be an over achiever and set helps these individuals carry their voice and motivates them to use it! I cherish each one of their statements! high time restraints on myself. I have learned that my timeline might not be someone else’s. I love to check my list off and make it happen but being What motivates you? Helping others! I have seen now that Hannah’s patient for a brief time is OK too! disabilities are allowing me to not only see her abilities but mine too. I created CHAT Bag initially Tell us what a typical day looks like in your household? A typical day in my household is hectic. to solve her problem, now it is helping many. She is my inspiration to keep moving forward! My husband is on a unique schedule for his job so I basically get the kids where they need to go daily. Between school running, therapy appointments, extracurricular activities, CHAT Bag work, church, Is there a charity or organization you volunteer for and/or support and why? family get togethers, somehow we make it My dad is a member of the Lion’s Club. For about happen! These times are precious though, as 20 years they have done a car show to raise they go by so quickly so I am trying to enjoy them money for the blind and other special needs. Our while I have them! family has participated in this from the beginning! How do you balance work and family life? What do you see in the future for your business or charity? Very carefully. God and family come first before I would love to see CHAT Bag continue to be work. Normally when I get the kids off to school used by many! I spend that time to work on CHAT Bag. When parents, are all using them now and for that I am they are off school this time is used for therapy grateful. u 12  The SpecialMoms magazine ~ Winter 2014 Teachers, therapists, students,