To the Great Women, Who Go Unnoticed

Hi friends! Ok, so as I mentioned a few weeks ago, this summer I’m partnering with Lean Cuisine in the Feed Your Phenomenal^TM campaign to share stories of great accomplishments and great food. We’re doubling down on the greatness here, folks! In my last post I shared the brand’s message reinforcing that when we are evaluating ourselves, the most important thing we should weigh is our accomplishments. Now, as a part of their Phenomenal Effect campaign, Lean Cuisine wants to help recognize the important things women do every day that go unnoticed.

I’m sure we can all relate to this; so much of what we do is the behind the scenes “prep work” that doesn’t necessarily receive acclaim most of the time. But it matters. It all matters.

Today I’m sharing the story of an amazing woman in my life: My mom, Linda Curtis. Not only has she been an amazing mom to me, but she has also been the “go-to” mom for many of my friends as well. She isn’t the type of person who’s the center of attention, yet people have always congregated around her. She was somehow able to make our childhood home a gathering spot for kids who needed a place to gather. Everyone felt welcome there. She has been a second mom to many over the years.

Until I became a mother myself I didn’t realize the amount of effort it takes to create that kind of welcoming atmosphere in a home. Somehow I believed that my mom could, without any apparent effort or planning, have a meal ready for 5 of my friends with no advance notice and also have time to pick us up from sports and go over our homework. Somehow this stuff just happened.

Now, of course, I realize that wasn’t the case at all–my mom had to plan and prep and clean and make all of that happen.

The things that moms can make happen seem like sheer magic when you’re a child. It is this unnoticed but all important effort that is the hallmark of so many mothers out there.

My own mom has been the most supportive and loving person I could imagine having in my life, and continues to be that way with her grandson. Our house is still a gathering place. Our house is a family home because my mom made it that way.

When I think about raising my own little boy I think about the magic and comfort and joy of my childhood and realize that so much of that was because of my mother. I want to create that kind of space in my own way.

So thank you mom for everything that you have done for so many years, even when I didn’t notice it. Especially when I didn’t notice it. I notice it now.

How amazing would it be if we all took the time to write a short note to a woman we respect and admire? And how great would it be to get a note from someone who respects and admires us?

To be a part of this movement, and to see more stories of phenomenal women, visit the Phenomenal Effect website. You could win prizes for yourself and everyone that you recognize. So leave a message of your own and spread some goodwill! And let’s start the conversation right here: Who are some of the phenomenal women in your life?  Each comment left on the blog will automatically be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift card, thanks to SheKnows! 

Lean Cuisine wants to help recognize the unseen things women do every day that go unnoticed. For more information on Lean Cuisine’s products you can visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter! 

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