Life of a working mom: Parents need to take good care of themselves

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I want to live to be 100. Ever since I gave birth to my baby boy, I have wanted to live a long life.

I want to be there to experience it all, from his college graduation to his wedding day to the birth of his first child. So now that I want to live to be 100, I have a new game plan.

I have worked in this high-stress journalism job for the past 16 years, I get very little sleep and I don’t eat very well. I used to exercise regularly, but that ended once the baby was born.

This is not a recipe for living a long life, so I need to make some changes. I believe as parents we need to take care of ourselves not only so we can be there to see our children grow up, but because they need us.

We need to make changes for our children because they come first. All parents should buckle up, quit smoking, eat healthy, exercise and not drink and drive.

I have seen the effect of parents dying young and how incredibly painful it is for the children. I experienced it first hand.

I remember the day I received the call as if it were yesterday. His name was Todd. He was that guy in high school that all of us girls had a crush on. He was tall, handsome and charming.

After graduation I ended up dating Todd for three years. He had two darling little girls. I love them as much as I loved him. Then I got the call. I dropped to my knees and started to sob.

Todd had been in a 4-wheeler accident. He was brain dead. I rushed to the hospital. His daughters asked me to go into the room with them. My sister and I entered the room and held the girls, ages 5 and 7, as they cried over their father’s body.

I have never heard such horrible cries. I have never been more heartbroken. Todd looked just as handsome as he always had, but he was gone. Now these baby girls had to live life without the father they adored.

His family asked me to give the eulogy at his funeral. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I did it for those little girls.

I talked about the fun we used to have dancing in his living room with the girls, and then I played his song for them, “I Hope You Dance.”

I finished speaking and I was shaking as I tried to get back up the aisle. I swore to myself I would not let this happen to my children.

I’m not blaming Todd. Accidents happen. But now that I’m a parent, I want to make sure I do all I can to ensure my son doesn’t have to grow up without me.

Life happens. I can’t guarantee I will live to be 100, but for my son’s sake, I am going to try. I will eat a few more salads, go for a few more jogs and try not to let the stress of my job get to me.

And I will make sure to enjoy the blessings in my life. And when I get the choice to sit it out or dance, I will dance.

Julie Moravchik is news director at KQDS-TV, FOX 21. You can reach her at jmoravchik@kqdsfox21.tv or post a comment to her column on the Scrapbook page of duluthnewstribune.com. You can write to her at 2001 London Road, Duluth, MN 55812-2126.

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