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Super Women 4 Moms of the Year BY TARA MENDANHA
GAYLE GARBOLINO-MOJICA
Mom of 2, Roseville
G
ayle has built an impressive resume all while raising two self-sufficient boys: Jack (25), who studied mechanical engineering and is currently finishing a paramedic program; and Max (20), a talented soccer player who’s majoring in finance. The Placer County Superintendent of Schools is currently on her fourth term and oversees 16 school districts, 150 schools, and over 75,000 students. “I lead by building relationships,” she says of her successful tenure. Her long list of accomplishments includes chair and board positions on countless education committees and receiving of half a dozen professional awards. What has your journey through motherhood been like? I’ve lived through the challenges of working, motherhood, and self-care. I [returned to work] after six weeks of maternity leave for my first child. I got my master’s degree in education thereafter and interviewed for an administrative job just three days after giving birth to my youngest, joining the new position when he was three weeks old. When I ran for county superintendent, my sons—five and nine—helped distribute flyers with a cute “Vote for my mom!” pitch. What’s your parenting style? I wanted my children to be well-rounded, so I paid attention not only to school but their social life and extracurricular activities. I didn’t want stressed-out kids who had unreasonable expectations that took a toll on their mental health. They’re educated, responsible, respectful, and caring adults—that’s a home run. What are your dreams for yourself and your children? I want my boys to be healthy and happy, and I want to make sure that I raised them to be responsible, respectful, and caring. And they are. Now, I wonder what type of parents they will be, and I hope they incorporate some of my parenting strategies when raising their own kids. Q&A
One thing that gets you through the day: I strive to be the best person that I can be for that day. Nothing more, nothing less. Best part about being a mom: I love moving from being an active parent of boys to now being a parent of adult children. Parenting still happens, just in a different way. Not-so-great part about being a mom: The stress. There were times when my boys were younger that life was stressful. Once I dealt with it, I became a better mom. Best mom advice: Love your kids but set boundaries. They may seem like angels, but they don’t always act like angels. Absolute mom must-have: High-quality childcare that you trust. You cannot succeed without it. When the going gets tough…Throw yourself a 30-minute pity party then get up, shake yourself off, and keep moving forward.
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| MAY 2021 |
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Family photo by Donna Beck Photography; headshot courtesy of the Placer County Office of Education.
Mom, Mama, Mommy—superheroines are known by many names! Mothers juggle parenting, careers, and housekeeping while still retaining their identities as women with dreams and aspirations of their own. We found some inspiring moms in honor of Mother’s Day (May 9) who’ve defied odds, tasted success, changed lives, and are raising children to do the same.
