I like people. One of the best parts of my job is working with people from all ages and stages. I learn something new from a client almost every day! In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought I would point out some of the things I particularly love about working with Moms. If you are a Mom out there (in any form), my hat is off to you!
Moms make great clients because:
MOMS KNOW WHAT EVERYTHING IS
Moms are like a walking Google. No matter what we come across, they know everything about it: where it came from, whether it has a name (and what that name is), to whom it belongs, whether it needs to be put in a safe place, etc.
The amazing Moms I’ve worked with can do things like:
- Look at a tiny little object and immediately know that it is a broken piece to a favorite toy that needs to be saved
- Identify puzzle and board game pieces, and know whether the corresponding game is still in the house
- Delineate one child’s sock from another, even when they are the same size and color
- Distinguish a book that has been borrowed from one that is owned (including the ones that are owned but were bought at a library sale and still have the library tag on the spine)
- Recognize which dolls are loved and which aren’t from a basket full of naked ones
- Set apart the Lego creation that needs to be displayed vs. the one that can be taken apart
- Remember which hair bands/belts/pants/etc. will be tolerated (and hence used) as opposed to those that won’t
- Clarify which sunscreen can be used by which child
- Single out the toys that will be used as weapons, and therefore need special storage treatment
These are just a few of countless examples. When a Mom seems anxious about decluttering, I often reassure her that she needn’t worry. She knows what her children’s favorite things are, and it is unlikely that she will accidentally get rid of them.
MOMS WORK REALLY HARD
Moms are used to working hard. They are usually up early and moving rapidly through the day from one thing to another before they can crash into bed at night. Whether they work outside the home or not, they are busy! When I work with Moms, I know I will be focused and moving quickly for the entire session. We are going to be getting a lot done. Every second counts. After all, there is usually some child who needs to be picked up soon. Sometimes, Moms are so focused on finishing the project that I need to remind them to stop and have a sip of water or take a moment to go to the bathroom. J
Moms also tend to be very physically strong. They are used to hauling children up flights of stairs and lugging all kinds of kid paraphernalia around. Need a box of paper hauled up to the attic? Ask a Mom!
MOMS TELL GREAT STORIES
Actually, this is true for all of my clients. I love hearing client stories; they are always interesting, often educational, and enrich my life. What is special about Mom stories is that they tend to be funny.
There was the time a Mom walked into the laundry room to find her son up on the counter, pulling the iron out of the upper cabinet (hence, the security lock that is now in place).
Or the Mom whose child came running into the kitchen, pointing energetically at the paper towels (because she was too young to talk), and then running into the family room to “wash away” the permanent marker she drew all over the wooden coffee table.
Then there was the story of the little boy who wanted to open all of the kitchen cabinets and then lie down on the floor and just “think about” what everything looked like on the shelves.
Many Moms of teenagers have a story about the “aroma of Axe” all over the house or the heaps of freshly laundered clothing that pile up on the bedroom floor. [Note: I always recommend that the teen be required to at least keep a clear path from the bed to the door for safety reasons.]
Most of these stories arise from our discussion of what to put where, and how to ensure safety and respect while keeping the chaos under control. I love that Moms can tell stories of difficult, interruptive, expensive problems without malice. We just laugh and then design a customized system with these children in mind.
MOMS ARE SOFTIES AT HEART
Everyone struggles a bit when it comes to making decisions about sentimental items: gifts from a dear friend, things that belonged to a deceased relative, love letters, photographs, etc. Yet Moms seem to wrestle more than anyone when dealing with emotional objects. Moms perceive value in almost everything:
- A necklace made from dental floss and plastic beads? That must be kept.
- A scrap of paper on which a child drew a picture of Mom and a heart? Surely that should be hung up.
- The cast from when a child broke his arm at age 2? Yep, that’s a keeper!
- The “before braces” mold of a child’s teeth? He’ll want that someday, right?
I often tell my girls (now adults) that they will find few people who will care about every single little detail of their lives the way their Mom does. I love it all. I still want to know
- What was everyone was wearing?
- Did her feet hurt from wearing the high shoes?
- Was the music loud?
- What exactly did the professor say?
- How much did it cost?
… Moms thrive on these details.
* * * * *
It is always a little risky to talk about Mother’s Day. Many people grow up without a Mom. Likewise, many women wish to be Moms, but aren’t able to fulfill this dream. My intent here is not to minimize the void that this holiday can exacerbate, but only to express thanks to the many Moms who have invited me in, shared their stories and offered me the privilege of bringing order to their lives.
What do you admire most about the Moms in your life?
Aw, so many wonderful reasons why all moms are special here tonight. Thanks for the reminder. Now, I want to wish you a very, Happy Mother’s Day Seana!!! 😉
Janine Huldie recently posted…How to Make A Picture Perfect DIY Washi Tape Mother’s Day Frame with FREE Printable
Happy, happy Mother’s Day to you, Janine! It’s such a privilege to know all you amazing Moms:)
Aww, lovely post Seana! 🙂 You know exactly what and who moms are. I have to agree that moms tend to be physically strong. I, myself, am surprised with how physically strong I am despite my thin frame. I was surprised when I managed to carry 1 gallon of water and put it on the water dispenser, and carry 2 big pails of water (one for each hand) to the bathroom. LOL. Happy Mother’s Day to you Seana! ♥
Rea recently posted…Pre-Mother’s Day Tea Party with Cebu Marriott & Etiquette De Manille
Happy MOther’s Day, Rea. It is amazing how strong you get hauling children and their supplies around. Hope you got to celebrate and relax a bit today:)
I think you said it best… Moms care about every little detail. Growing up there was a couple (older friends of my parents) who were there at every event – large and small. We called them Cha-Cha and Tick-Tock. Her name was really Charlotte and his was Fred. This couple had no children of their own but became part of our extended family and we adored them. We (my siblings and I) were their part-time children. They often took care of us on weekends or during the day when my mother was busy. I also like to honor those who do not have biological children but who do lots of mothering in their own way on Mother’s Day.
Excellent point, Diane. What a blessing to have these wonderful, generous people in your lives. I bet your mother was also so thankful to have this support. So many people invest in the lives of children, whether they are biologically or relationally connected. I just adore the nicknames – what a treasure!
Happy Mother’s Day! I love working with moms too – they get the details so right when dressing their kids for photography! And having backup clothes!
I feel that as a mom, I’m all about details. If Cassidy folds the laundry, which he does often, he does a better job of folding than I ever good, BUT, the kids will not have the right socks!
Tamara recently posted…Somebody Leave the Light On
I love this observation… attention to detail for sure! Great comment about having backup clothes — that is such a Mom thing to think ahead about. Happy Mother’s Day!!
One of the biggest joys in my life is being a mom. And what a beautiful tribute you wrote to all the knowing, caring, loving, strong moms that you work with. I also appreciate what you said about acknowledging that not everyone becomes a mom or grew up with a mom.But like the beautiful story that Diane shared, I bet everyone knows a wonderful mom. Once I became a mom, I finally understood how much my mom loved me and why she was so interested in everything I was doing. That’s how I feel about our daughters.
Your daughters and clients are lucky to have you in their lives. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Linda Samuels recently posted…How to Remove Clutter From Your “Happy Place”
Moms are pretty incredible people! I can definitely appreciate my Mom much more now than I ever did growing up. I’ve come to realize that I will never know/remember most of what she did for me. It’s just the way things go. I have so much respect for the selflessness that parents of both genders show each day, but since I work with lots of Moms, I couldn’t help singing their praises!
I laughed when i started reading your post, Moms know where everything is, i see that in play all the time with my clients as well. Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Jill Robson recently posted…5 Simple ways your clothes in your closet can make You look Stunning
Had a nice day, Jill. Hope your was good too. Moms are amazing; they work so hard, for so little recognition. Just wanted to share a few strengths I see that maybe the world will never acknowledge!
Very sweet post, Seana! It’s true that Moms remember everything – I can look at an outfit from when my girls were babies and know which one it belonged to and why they were wearing it — and that was over 20 years ago! Moms are incredible and a true gift to us all!
Liana George recently posted…The 5 Dirty Words of Organizing
I agree, Liana. I know that I was intimately familiar with the details of their clothing and belongings when my girls were little. Now I get so excited the details that arrive via text!
Great post, Seana! I do find that moms remember everything. Moms were my main clients for many years, and they knew it all. They knew what their kids liked, what they can do without, what their kids couldn’t live without, etc… I am in awe with all the moms out there and what they do and sacrifice for their children. Thank you for sharing and I hope you had a great Mother’s Day.
Moms really are amazing. They know details that no one else knows, and the effort they make to know these things goes largely unacknowledged. I always learn from my Mom clients, and love being with them! Happy belated Mother’s Day to you as well, Sabrina!
This post is too sweet, Seana! And I couldn’t agree more about your points how mothers know what everything is. And I chuckled about your Axe body spray comment. I imagine I’ll have a story to tell too with my stinky son when he hits the teen years! Lol…
As you know, I only have girls. But all my friends with boys talked a lot about Axe. What a journey this motherhood thing is, right?
I smiled all the way through your post. I need to print this out and read it out loud each morning as an encouraging mantra. 🙂
Susan recently posted…Library Card Drawers to Organize a Craft Room
All Moms can use a bit of encouragement now and then. Much of what Moms do takes place without fanfare or acknowledgement. Happy Mother’s Day to you and all the Moms you know, Susan!
Love this post! I love to work with moms too! They are generous, big hearted, brave and smart! It’s a special way they love their families by being organized.
So many of my clients are moms, working very hard for little recognition. Nice to take advantage of Mother’s Day to share a few why I so appreciate them!
I love your list of things moms can do. You are right. They are amazing.
My kid’s used to call me PheMOMenon, because I usually knew where everything was located in the house. It was one of my superpowers.
Janet Schiesl recently posted…The Medical Paperwork Nightmare
That’s a terrific nickname, Janet! What a gift to your children that you could put your fingers on anything at any time. 🙂