Mother's Day Special: Moms Who Keep Trucking Moving

1 00:00:01,559 --> 00:00:07,040 What do you do for a Mother's Day special on a podcast? Uh, well, it can look like a lot of things. 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:12,080 And you've heard a lot of these episodes before. Uh. Thank you. Stories. All the right things to say. 3 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:18,760 Maybe even some flowers get shipped. Okay, but this one, this episode of always pneumatic, never 4 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:24,359 static. This one's a little different, because today isn't just about celebrating moms. It's 5 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:30,240 about understanding them. It's about the things you don't see. The late nights, the early mornings, 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:37,040 the constant balancing act between work and home, and the quiet moments when these moms are just 7 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:42,080 trying to figure out if they're getting it all right. And in one case, it's about growing up, 8 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,800 watching all of that happen, watching a mother hold down a family while a company was being 9 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:52,440 built, and then stepping into that world yourself and carrying it forward. We had some laughs in 10 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:58,240 this episode, I won't lie to you, but I'll be very honest with you when I say this conversation got 11 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:03,950 even more real than I expected it to. Because when you start talking about motherhood, you're not 12 00:01:03,950 --> 00:01:10,829 just talking about a role. You're talking about an identity, sacrifice, pride, and sometimes 13 00:01:10,870 --> 00:01:17,430 fear. So today we're sitting down with three incredible moms from Bulk and Spur, 14 00:01:17,750 --> 00:01:23,229 Andrea McClung, Rachel Dellaposta, and Kelly Turnire. Join us today on the show to talk 15 00:01:23,269 --> 00:01:30,269 about what it really takes to be a mom in the trucking industry. You are 16 00:01:30,269 --> 00:01:35,509 listening to. Always pneumatic, never static. The Totally Pressurized podcast, brought to you by 17 00:01:35,510 --> 00:01:41,269 Bulk Transit, where we keep the lines clear, the tanks empty, and the conversation anything but dry. 18 00:01:41,309 --> 00:01:46,349 Whether you're running powder pellets or anything in between, pull up a seat, crack the windows, and 19 00:01:46,349 --> 00:01:52,910 let's hit it. How's it going out there? Bulk and Spur. Welcome 20 00:01:52,910 --> 00:01:59,910 into always pneumatic, never static. Episode 13. And dare I say, Happy Mother's Day to 21 00:01:59,950 --> 00:02:01,390 all the mothers out there. 22 00:02:07,190 --> 00:02:13,869 My mom included, my sister included as well. A very happy Mother's Day. Going out to every mother 23 00:02:13,869 --> 00:02:20,029 out there from the always pneumatic, never static crew. And this is an exciting day for me. Okay, I'm 24 00:02:20,030 --> 00:02:24,030 going to tell you why, but let me get to the homework first. You know what's coming. You know 25 00:02:24,030 --> 00:02:28,909 I'm going to say it. Let's just get it out of the way so we can forget about it and move on. 26 00:02:28,910 --> 00:02:34,350 podcast.bulktransit.com is the website that's where you want to go to get in touch with me. But that's 27 00:02:34,350 --> 00:02:39,229 also where you want to go to take the quizzes that we have. Each episode comes with a quiz and 28 00:02:39,229 --> 00:02:44,029 you can test your mettle up there. You never know. Sooner or later we're going to be doing another 29 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:49,950 giveaway, uh, that will coincide with these quizzes. We've already given away two really nice cooling 30 00:02:49,950 --> 00:02:55,030 vests on this show. We will do that again here in the in the future at some point in time. I'm not 31 00:02:55,030 --> 00:03:01,419 exactly sure when yet. And to be honest with you, it's not 100% my decision. So just get on that to 32 00:03:01,460 --> 00:03:08,220 that website, podcast.bulktransit.com and start practicing. You'll start to understand the way we get these 33 00:03:08,220 --> 00:03:12,819 questions out of each episode, and then you'll start to get better at them. And hey, maybe that 34 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:17,379 retention thing will even get a little bit better. Look, I'm 41 years old. I don't remember what I had 35 00:03:17,380 --> 00:03:22,179 for dinner last night, so I get it. Sometimes retention is a little tough. And I'm not talking 36 00:03:22,179 --> 00:03:27,739 about Rachel's job. That's a completely different ballgame. But go on there, take the quizzes. Every 37 00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:34,659 single episode that we have produced and will produce will be on podcast.bulktransit.com. So if you 38 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:39,619 don't want to go to Spotify, Apple Music, all the rest of these platforms, all you have to do is 39 00:03:39,619 --> 00:03:45,819 bookmark that website and you can go there 5 a.m. local time every Wednesday for a brand new hour 40 00:03:45,820 --> 00:03:52,299 of content from Always Pneumatic, Never Static, and I say an hour of content. Sometimes we don't get 41 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:57,179 to fit it all within an hour because we're talking about important stuff on this show, and 42 00:03:57,179 --> 00:04:04,179 today's episode might be the hallmark for that, because today we're talking about moms. 43 00:04:04,179 --> 00:04:10,780 And, uh, this the Mother's Day episodes that I've done. Just a little background for you guys now. 44 00:04:10,780 --> 00:04:15,059 I've been making podcasts for truck drivers. I think maybe I've said this before, it's going on 45 00:04:15,059 --> 00:04:21,018 about four years now. I've probably got 300 plus episodes under my belt, and a lot of the Mother's 46 00:04:21,019 --> 00:04:26,179 Day episodes that we end up doing sound the same. We don't get a lot of mothers that really are are 47 00:04:26,179 --> 00:04:31,739 too excited about, uh, banging the drum for mothers. And it stinks because what I always get is a 48 00:04:31,739 --> 00:04:37,059 bunch of I get a bunch of male drivers that want to come in and do shout-outs to their moms on 49 00:04:37,059 --> 00:04:41,419 these other podcasts. I shouldn't have said it stinks. That doesn't stink. Those are always really 50 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:46,379 cool episodes and they're really fun. And we've actually featured some moms before, but it's been 51 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:52,260 few and far between. This episode gets to be different, and I'm so excited for it because today 52 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:58,489 we're welcoming three moms that work at Bulk and Spur, and that means you're going to get to know a 53 00:04:58,489 --> 00:05:05,049 little bit about what it's actually like to be a mom in the trucking industry, and that's really 54 00:05:05,049 --> 00:05:10,409 what I was aiming for for this episode. I'll be honest with you. I know that we all love our moms. 55 00:05:10,410 --> 00:05:15,609 We know that that's that's not something that's lost on any of us. Okay. If you ask, you know, take a 56 00:05:15,609 --> 00:05:20,089 random sampling of ten people say, hey, do you love your mom? You're probably going to get nine yeses 57 00:05:20,089 --> 00:05:26,929 in one. Maybe. Okay, look, I, I love to make space for it on the podcast, but I wanted to see the 58 00:05:26,929 --> 00:05:32,849 real side of this from their perspective. Because one thing that saying all these nice things about 59 00:05:32,849 --> 00:05:38,849 mom doesn't do on the podcast is show some of the sacrifices, some of the fears, some of the points 60 00:05:38,849 --> 00:05:43,969 of pride, some of the things that they might have been scared of over the years of raising their 61 00:05:43,969 --> 00:05:50,849 children. And I think that is where the real meat is. Um, for a Mother's Day episode. And we get 62 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,640 to do that today, and I need to get the heck out of here and stop talking, because I told you 63 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:59,559 earlier, hey, we'd try to fit it all in an hour. This conversation we're about to have with our 64 00:05:59,559 --> 00:06:05,919 three moms from Bulk go for almost an hour. So I'm already over time here, and I'm happy to do it 65 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:11,880 because this was such a great episode. So please, without further ado, welcome to Always Pneumatic, 66 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,600 Never Static our three moms for our Mother's Day special. 67 00:06:23,799 --> 00:06:29,839 Welcome back into Always Pneumatic, Never Static. I am so pumped for this episode. Uh, I'm a little bit 68 00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:34,640 of a mama's boy myself. I'm not gonna lie to anybody. I have a great relationship with my mom. My 69 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:39,480 dad and I enjoy all the same hobbies, but I'm a lot more like my mom than I am my dad. I'm 70 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:46,479 emotional. Um, I like to. I like to enjoy and feel all of the feelings. And. And I'm a huge dog lover. 71 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:52,399 All those things come from mom. And, this episode is special. It's special to me because a lot of 72 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:57,079 the times, the Mother's Day episodes that you will hear on a trucking podcast will sound a lot the 73 00:06:57,079 --> 00:07:02,880 same. Uh, thank you's stories. We give mom flowers. We want to tell all you know. How would it be if 74 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:09,200 mom was in the cab with you? But today isn't that. Today is about what it actually takes to raise a 75 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:15,279 family and build a company. And in one case, what it looks like to grow up inside that story and 76 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:19,960 carry it forward. So please welcome our three mothers that are joining us here on the show 77 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:26,239 today. First off, we've got HR director and owner at Bulk and Spur. Andrea McClung. Andrea, thank you 78 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:32,439 so much for being here today. Hi, Marcus. Happy to be here. I'm so happy to have you. We've got so 79 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:37,839 much to dig into with your family history and the company and everything. So excited to dig into 80 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:43,319 that a little bit today. Um, and of course, I will tell you all this each individually. Happy 81 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:49,949 Mother's day from Always Pnomatic, Never Static. I thank you, you. Of course. Of course. Joining us 82 00:07:49,950 --> 00:07:54,988 next. You just heard her on this show last week. She was so good. We had to have her back again. 83 00:07:55,030 --> 00:07:59,870 That is, of course, our recruiting and retention manager, Rachel Dellaposta. Rachel, thank you so 84 00:07:59,870 --> 00:08:05,109 much for giving us time. Two weeks in a row. Hey, you give me a microphone and an audience. And I 85 00:08:05,109 --> 00:08:10,789 love to listen to my own self-talk, so. Hey. Amen. Amen, I love it. Happy Mother's Day to you as well, 86 00:08:10,829 --> 00:08:17,469 Rachel. Thank you. And I also have making her first appearance here on the show. And guess what? I 87 00:08:17,470 --> 00:08:22,189 didn't do my job because I didn't ask what terminal she was the manager for. But I've got 88 00:08:22,189 --> 00:08:27,190 terminal manager Kelly Turnmire on the show. Kelly, welcome to the show. Thank you for making 89 00:08:27,190 --> 00:08:31,670 your first appearance. Please tell me what terminal you manage so that I can be good at my 90 00:08:31,670 --> 00:08:38,669 job today. Hi, Marcus. I'm glad to be here. Um, I am the terminal manager in Pikeon. 91 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:44,428 Piketon, thank you so much for being here, Kelly. Happy Mother's Day to you out there in Piketon. 92 00:08:44,429 --> 00:08:51,349 Thank you. Now, I want to start off Andrea, kind of right from the top. And I promise I'm going to 93 00:08:51,349 --> 00:08:56,109 wrap this whole thing around. I'll get to to Rachel and Kelly here in just a moment. But, Andrea, 94 00:08:56,150 --> 00:09:01,669 your father builds this company. But nobody builds something like this alone. And I think we all know 95 00:09:01,669 --> 00:09:08,109 that. What role did your mom play in the journey of Bulk and Spur becoming what it is today? 96 00:09:09,430 --> 00:09:14,949 Yeah. So, I mean, obviously, she was very involved. I mean, he started out, you know, driving a truck for 97 00:09:14,949 --> 00:09:19,709 somebody else. So she was there supporting him while he was doing that. And then you heard the 98 00:09:19,710 --> 00:09:25,270 story about how he took the money from that they had saved, buy a house to actually buy a truck. So 99 00:09:25,270 --> 00:09:31,669 that didn't go so well for her. But she didn't. But she still supported him and routed him on and 100 00:09:31,710 --> 00:09:38,150 obviously got over it and it all worked out. But she also did, um, payroll in the very early days. I 101 00:09:38,150 --> 00:09:43,509 remember her actually processing payroll. It was actually for the Piketon terminal that Kelly is 102 00:09:43,510 --> 00:09:50,059 currently running, and, um, we had a situation where we were working with another company 103 00:09:50,099 --> 00:09:55,539 where basically it was our trucks pulling their trailers, and so she would do that payroll 104 00:09:55,939 --> 00:10:01,179 manually, in-house. I just remember all the paperwork kind of laid out on our dining room 105 00:10:01,260 --> 00:10:06,499 table. And once a week she that's what she would be doing. And then as things had gotten kind of 106 00:10:06,539 --> 00:10:11,579 larger, she decided she'd be better off not in the business with dad and just encouraging him from 107 00:10:11,580 --> 00:10:17,739 the sidelines. Hey, I understand that that can be a wise decision to make. So your mom used to do 108 00:10:17,739 --> 00:10:23,178 payroll. So there's a certain aspect of you filling mom's shoes right now, right? Yeah, actually, 109 00:10:23,179 --> 00:10:29,139 I hadn't actually thought of that. You're right. Yeah, obviously. Uh, probably doing a little bit 110 00:10:29,140 --> 00:10:34,779 more here as, as the time has gone on, but. Yeah, that's one of your roles I know. So. Yeah. Um. What? 111 00:10:34,819 --> 00:10:40,978 Andrea, what did you see growing up? Uh, maybe that you didn't quite understand at the time, but now 112 00:10:40,979 --> 00:10:47,538 you really do about that kind of support role that your mom played in after she decided to step 113 00:10:47,539 --> 00:10:54,499 away from the company? Yeah. You know, obviously my mom's, you know, her with my dad being such 114 00:10:54,499 --> 00:10:59,739 a workaholic and putting his whole life into the business. You know, my mom really had to put us 115 00:10:59,740 --> 00:11:06,499 first, and so. And she was is the best mom. Like, I literally have grown up 116 00:11:06,499 --> 00:11:11,939 thinking if I could just be, like, half the mom that she was, I think I'd be doing pretty good 117 00:11:11,979 --> 00:11:17,179 because, like, she was president of PTO, she was a soccer coach, even though she never played soccer 118 00:11:17,180 --> 00:11:22,460 before. Heck, I think she might have even coached the boys in baseball at one point in time. So like, 119 00:11:22,499 --> 00:11:29,139 she was one of those moms that literally would do anything and was very involved. She had several 120 00:11:29,140 --> 00:11:34,499 jobs throughout. You know, throughout my childhood as well. Um, but really, her number one job was 121 00:11:34,499 --> 00:11:38,819 being a mom, and she was awesome. Like, she literally raised the whole neighborhood, you know? 122 00:11:38,819 --> 00:11:44,809 So she was just that mom that was super involved and then in still very much involved. Like as we 123 00:11:44,809 --> 00:11:50,329 all had kids. Then she became like, you know, grandma of the year as well. I mean, she would take 124 00:11:50,330 --> 00:11:57,128 all of them to the movies by herself. So there could be anywhere from eight to 8 to 12 of them, 125 00:11:57,129 --> 00:12:03,689 sometimes 14. And she would take them by herself to the movie theater, all the sporting events. You 126 00:12:03,689 --> 00:12:08,689 know, she was just she was awesome. So her role was really kind of outside the business, just making 127 00:12:08,690 --> 00:12:14,649 sure everything at home was, was safe and good to go. That's so cool. And in any grandma that can 128 00:12:14,650 --> 00:12:19,569 stomach taking 14 kids to the movies by herself, that's a grandma that's coached a couple of teams 129 00:12:19,570 --> 00:12:25,169 before she knows how to, uh, how to make a group of kids move in unison. You know, it's so funny that 130 00:12:25,169 --> 00:12:31,609 you say that my sister is a boy Mom and my sister grew up as a dancer and a cheerleader. And here 131 00:12:31,610 --> 00:12:35,849 she is this last year coaching Little League. I called her and I said, I've seen you throw a ball. 132 00:12:35,849 --> 00:12:41,039 What are you doing coaching Little League? That was a great team. She did a great job with it. I 133 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:45,759 was always blown away, but that's kind of just what moms do, right? Andrea? It's see a need, fill a 134 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:51,400 need. Yep. Absolutely. That's definitely the way mom was to I think she was our she was my Girl Scout 135 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,919 leader and she was the boys' Boy Scout leader at one time. I mean, when I say she was involved, she 136 00:12:55,919 --> 00:13:00,279 really was. And even after we graduated high school, there would be principals that would still 137 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:04,639 reach out to her if they needed help with something. So, like, they didn't want to let her go. 138 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:11,119 She makes me look terrible as a parent. I'll be honest with you. Hey, how's it working, mom? It's 139 00:13:11,119 --> 00:13:17,479 okay. Have a high bar and reach for it every day. Right. Uh, do you think people outside your family 140 00:13:17,479 --> 00:13:22,879 fully understand what your mom carried during this time? I mean, like you said, your dad had to be 141 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:28,199 very involved with the trucking company to get it to the the level that it is today and where you 142 00:13:28,199 --> 00:13:35,119 guys where it was when he passed. Um, is everybody kind of aware of the not only the sacrifice 143 00:13:35,119 --> 00:13:41,879 but the effort that your mom put in? Yeah, I mean, I think everybody can see it now. You. She would 144 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:47,959 never necessarily show it like she, she's tough. She's a tough mama and she. Doesn't want the 145 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:54,079 recognition. No. You know you would never know that like honestly until we all grew up and kind of 146 00:13:54,119 --> 00:13:58,479 went off to college. It was like then she was like, who am I who? I got to kind of reinvent myself. I 147 00:13:58,479 --> 00:14:02,879 gotta find some friends. I get to do some stuff. And she's done all of that too. I mean, we all want 148 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:09,079 to grow up to be her someday. So, you know, I think she carried it very well. And she knew also that 149 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:14,280 she had to do things to kind of support dad and trying to getting him away from work a little bit 150 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,439 because, you know, his stress level would get really high and especially when something 151 00:14:18,439 --> 00:14:22,320 happened, you know, something like a bad accident or something like that, you know, that would be 152 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:27,919 really hard on dad. And so she knew that she needed to do things to, to get some kind of work 153 00:14:27,919 --> 00:14:33,439 life balance going for dad. And so they had started taking us on. We would do a week in 154 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:39,789 Florida every, um, Every winter just to kind of get dad away from it. And then, you know, when I got a 155 00:14:39,789 --> 00:14:45,309 little older, then, um, somehow they got the boating bug and ended up buying a houseboat on Lake 156 00:14:45,309 --> 00:14:51,270 Cumberland and, um, you know, and with her, I mean, she just planned everything out, and it was 157 00:14:51,270 --> 00:14:57,109 allowed my dad to get away, you know, about once a month or every few weeks, just for long weekend. Um, 158 00:14:57,150 --> 00:15:01,270 you know, so we could all be together. And honestly, I don't think we would have ever even, you know, 159 00:15:01,309 --> 00:15:07,429 our dad worked so hard that that's how we got to know dad. So she definitely did a lot to bring us 160 00:15:07,429 --> 00:15:12,909 together as a family and then also to support dad in the business. That's awesome. It's such a cool 161 00:15:12,909 --> 00:15:17,429 story. And hey, you got to take the guy out of Ohio and get him down to Florida once a year to warm 162 00:15:17,429 --> 00:15:23,949 his bones up. Right? It's cold up there sometimes where you guys are out. Oh. Absolutely. Rachel, after 163 00:15:23,949 --> 00:15:28,989 hearing Andrea talk about that, how much of that feels familiar? You hear her talk about the 164 00:15:28,990 --> 00:15:34,348 juggling that her mom was doing. You told me that you are a single mom, and I would like to know how 165 00:15:34,389 --> 00:15:40,509 familiar that whole juggle of all of the kids and and trying to take the stress off feels for you, 166 00:15:40,510 --> 00:15:45,348 because that's something that you do along with your 40-hour-a-week, full-time job as recruiting 167 00:15:45,349 --> 00:15:51,510 and retention manager. Right. So, yeah, I mean, being a mom in general is tough. And then being a single 168 00:15:51,510 --> 00:15:57,349 mom on top of that, being a single working mom is it's a lot. It's it's a lot. So I can definitely 169 00:15:57,349 --> 00:16:04,309 understand, um, the unique challenges and, uh, you know, all the different responsibilities and 170 00:16:04,310 --> 00:16:09,029 having lots of balls in the air at all times. Kelly, how about you? When you were listening to 171 00:16:09,069 --> 00:16:15,709 Andrea talk about her mom there? How familiar did all that feel to what you face day to day? So 172 00:16:15,750 --> 00:16:22,309 my mom was a lot like Andrea's mom. She was involved in everything. Um, she 173 00:16:22,509 --> 00:16:29,309 wore so many different hats. She was going to college while she was working, and she, um, she 174 00:16:30,150 --> 00:16:36,499 got her degree and and started teaching and then it then it kind of all transitioned to a 175 00:16:36,499 --> 00:16:42,819 different type of environment. My mom was actually my seventh-grade teacher. 176 00:16:43,260 --> 00:16:50,259 Oh, wow. It was terrible. Um, and then 177 00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:57,139 like, um, my mom is like a math genius. So I didn't get that part of of her passed down. 178 00:16:57,619 --> 00:17:02,979 But, um, I remember her sitting at the table, and I would just be crying, and she's like, why aren't 179 00:17:02,979 --> 00:17:09,939 you getting this? And I'm just like, I don't know. And but so as, as we 180 00:17:09,939 --> 00:17:16,739 transitioned into that type of environment, my mom was my teacher, but she was still there, you know, 181 00:17:16,780 --> 00:17:22,939 for all of, all of the big things. And she was always the cheerleader. 182 00:17:23,540 --> 00:17:30,259 So then once I ended up graduating, I went to college, I had 183 00:17:30,329 --> 00:17:36,889 kids, and my mom kind of took over the whole babysitting role while I was going to 184 00:17:36,930 --> 00:17:43,769 college and working, and because I was a single mom, too. And, um, she still is in 185 00:17:43,810 --> 00:17:49,969 that role, and she just had a birthday in January, and she's, she's getting to the point where she 186 00:17:49,969 --> 00:17:56,249 can't do those things anymore. But, um, she's still very involved with the grandkids. She's still very 187 00:17:56,250 --> 00:18:03,248 involved with, you know, me and my brother. Um, so a lot of what Andrea said resonates with what 188 00:18:03,249 --> 00:18:10,009 I had as a child, too. Absolutely. Now, I want to kind of talk a little bit about, uh, 189 00:18:10,010 --> 00:18:15,769 the double load that that you guys work as, as moms that are that are working. It's a double load. 190 00:18:15,770 --> 00:18:19,770 It's the same for dads. Look, I don't I'm not taking anything away from dads here. But you'll 191 00:18:19,770 --> 00:18:24,890 have your month in June. We're we're spending time on moms right now. So, uh, get over it is all I can 192 00:18:24,890 --> 00:18:29,810 say to the dads out there that might be pounding their fist on the dash right now. Sorry. Um, I said 193 00:18:29,810 --> 00:18:35,529 I'm a mama's boy. You're gonna catch that from me every now and then. But, um. Walk me through Rachel. 194 00:18:35,569 --> 00:18:41,369 A day where everything is pulling from you at once. Work needs you. Kids need you. We've got 195 00:18:41,370 --> 00:18:46,369 sports. We've got after-school activities. What does that feel like in real time, and how do you 196 00:18:46,369 --> 00:18:52,969 manage it? So, you know, it's first of all, I am very thankful that my own mom 197 00:18:52,969 --> 00:18:59,050 is very involved with my son. So I do have that going for me. Um, she helps out a lot, but, you know, 198 00:18:59,089 --> 00:19:04,369 you get up extra early to get your child ready for school and then you've got, you know, the 199 00:19:04,369 --> 00:19:09,409 school drop off line is always fun. Um, and then, you know, your kid forgot his backpack or you 200 00:19:09,409 --> 00:19:12,930 forgot his lunch, and then you got to go back home, and then you got to go back to the school, and 201 00:19:12,930 --> 00:19:17,009 then you got to get to work. And then, you know, you're slammed all day at work and trying to get 202 00:19:17,010 --> 00:19:23,009 through your workday. And then you sit in traffic to get home and, you know, cook dinner and run to 203 00:19:23,010 --> 00:19:29,999 sports. And, you know, there's always a million things going on. Um. I, I always like 204 00:19:29,999 --> 00:19:33,799 to think of kind of this analogy that I heard about. You know, you're always going to have a 205 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:37,199 million balls in the air, and you got to figure out which ones are glass and which ones are 206 00:19:37,199 --> 00:19:41,838 plastic, which ones are okay to drop and which ones you got to keep in the air. So that's a 207 00:19:41,839 --> 00:19:45,439 that's kind of what I focus on is not being perfect, just making sure you don't drop the glass 208 00:19:45,439 --> 00:19:51,279 ones. Boy, that's a great analogy. Kelly I got the same question for you. What's it feel like when 209 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:54,839 you're going through a day where everything's pulling at you at once? Does that analogy that 210 00:19:54,839 --> 00:20:01,519 Rachel just brought up there resonate with you? Uh, it does, but one thing that I learned, 211 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:08,759 um, at, you know, being a mom, my kids are older now, and and I now have grandbabies. Um, but one 212 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:15,599 thing that I learned as a mom is you have these magic hands that that come 213 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:20,799 out at some point to help you juggle, um, everything. You don't know how you're going to get 214 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:27,599 it done, but you do. And, um, thankfully, you know, I had a support 215 00:20:27,599 --> 00:20:34,399 system that, you know, could pick up, pick up the pieces and, and juggle the the 216 00:20:34,439 --> 00:20:41,159 balls in the air that I, I couldn't juggle. And, um, it's stressful being a mom. It's hard, 217 00:20:41,159 --> 00:20:46,999 but it's one of the most rewarding jobs you'll ever have. It's something that we hear from every 218 00:20:46,999 --> 00:20:51,999 mom we've ever had on this podcast. There's not a single one of you that would ever change. Uh, being 219 00:20:51,999 --> 00:20:58,439 a mom, is that correct? My kids definitely taught me patience and 220 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:05,040 and forgiveness, so. Yeah. Yeah, well that's good. Those are. Those are great lessons to learn. Uh, 221 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:10,319 Andrea, I will come back to you here. Um, as you hear Rachel and Kelly talk about being a mom 222 00:21:10,319 --> 00:21:15,958 working for Bulk, uh, obviously it's worked out for them, and and probably a big part of that is the 223 00:21:15,959 --> 00:21:20,800 support that Bulk gives its employees. We've heard plenty of it on this podcast up to this 224 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:26,309 point. But from the top down, what does that mean to you that you can see? You know, Rachel's single 225 00:21:26,310 --> 00:21:31,910 mom. Kelly's got grandkids now. They're still able to manage this and work the job at the same time. 226 00:21:31,910 --> 00:21:37,629 How much does that mean to you as a mom yourself? And how intentional is that environment at Bulk 227 00:21:37,630 --> 00:21:44,309 and Spur? Yeah, yeah. It's awesome. I mean, I just I they're both awesome moms, awesome people for sure. 228 00:21:44,310 --> 00:21:49,188 So yeah, you know, it's one of the things that is great about Bulk is that, you know, we can have 229 00:21:49,189 --> 00:21:54,549 some flexibility. And, um, you know, our families have to come first, and especially our children 230 00:21:54,550 --> 00:21:59,549 have to come first. So sometimes, you know, sometimes Rachel needs to work from home, or 231 00:21:59,550 --> 00:22:04,709 sometimes Kelly needs to leave early, even though her children are adults now. But she has grandkids, 232 00:22:04,709 --> 00:22:11,109 too. And sometimes things come up and and they have to take their priority, um, for sure. And, you 233 00:22:11,109 --> 00:22:16,829 know, I was blessed with that flexibility when I was raising my kids as well. Um, you know, my 234 00:22:16,829 --> 00:22:23,419 husband's job was not quite as flexible. So, um, you know, it is great that at Bulk Transit we can have 235 00:22:23,420 --> 00:22:27,939 a little bit more flexibility. I mean, there are days that is tougher than others that I know that 236 00:22:27,979 --> 00:22:32,500 you know, I knew that I would need my mom. I mean, there's no doubt. Like, I don't know how I would 237 00:22:32,540 --> 00:22:36,698 have gotten through it had my mom not been able to step up because, you know, payrolls got to get 238 00:22:36,699 --> 00:22:42,859 processed. And if the kids are sick on a Wednesday, I need somebody to to take the kids. Otherwise, 239 00:22:42,860 --> 00:22:46,339 they'd be sitting here in the office with me when they were young. And I tried not to do that very 240 00:22:46,380 --> 00:22:51,660 often. Yeah, I can imagine on a day that's not payroll day, maybe that's a little easier to 241 00:22:51,699 --> 00:22:57,499 manage, right? Yes. Exactly. And it does. You know, listening to them, it makes me remember how that 242 00:22:57,499 --> 00:23:03,499 was. And boy, was it stressful because you just you want to be everything to everybody, right? And it's 243 00:23:03,499 --> 00:23:08,260 just impossible to do. So Rachel is exactly right. You kind of have to pick your, you know, the 244 00:23:08,260 --> 00:23:12,338 priorities and kind of just go with it and let it roll off the back because there's going to be 245 00:23:12,339 --> 00:23:17,259 days you're just not going to make everybody happy. Absolutely. And that is that is the 246 00:23:17,259 --> 00:23:23,739 quintessential, um, I guess, Cross that moms bear. You want to be everything to 247 00:23:23,779 --> 00:23:30,299 everyone. And you know, my mom was big on telling me to pick my battles when I was a kid because I 248 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:35,060 wasn't what you would call a fighter, but I was a bit of a weird that I would end up where I am as 249 00:23:35,060 --> 00:23:40,139 a career here. Um, but, you know, I it was always for mom. She'd say, pick your battles. You're not going 250 00:23:40,140 --> 00:23:44,979 to be able to please everyone. And that was something that she taught me that, uh, that has 251 00:23:44,979 --> 00:23:51,419 really stuck with me. And I want to bring this to something really real here. If we can, uh, I want to 252 00:23:51,459 --> 00:23:57,138 ask each one of you what's what's something that you've had to give up as a mom because of your 253 00:23:57,139 --> 00:24:03,859 career or something that you've had to give up for your career because of being a mom? Um, Andrea, 254 00:24:03,859 --> 00:24:07,459 I can start with you. Is there anything that sticks out to you there? Something that you maybe 255 00:24:07,459 --> 00:24:14,419 you had to sacrifice as a mom or or as a as a career woman? Uh, to be a mom? Yeah. I mean, 256 00:24:14,460 --> 00:24:21,409 obviously, the biggest thing is just time. I mean, it's it's really your sacrificing time. It's to 257 00:24:21,409 --> 00:24:26,489 me, it's not a sacrifice. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. But you're kind of sacrificing time. Um, 258 00:24:26,569 --> 00:24:31,529 you know, I started golfing before I had kids and didn't golf. You know, I probably golfed, you know, a 259 00:24:31,529 --> 00:24:37,449 handful of times and then got pregnant with Conor and literally didn't golf for another 20 years. So 260 00:24:38,290 --> 00:24:44,409 I gave up golf, but not a big sacrifice. And still, still still doing it, but still not very good at 261 00:24:44,410 --> 00:24:49,169 it. So it was probably a good thing that I left it behind. And maybe with having a little more 262 00:24:49,170 --> 00:24:54,049 patience, which I can't say that I'm the most patient person in the world, but I feel like I've 263 00:24:54,089 --> 00:25:00,169 gained a little patience through kids over the years. But really, it's just a time. I mean, but now 264 00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:03,568 I have almost, you know, now it feels like the opposite. Now, sometimes I feel like I have too 265 00:25:03,569 --> 00:25:08,608 much time on my hands, and I feel like I wish I had things to keep me busy. So. Right, right. Well, 266 00:25:08,609 --> 00:25:12,890 take it from somebody who didn't take 20 years off of golf and didn't get any better. I don't 267 00:25:12,890 --> 00:25:17,489 know that you missed much out there. Um, we're still out there hitting balls into the pond every 268 00:25:17,489 --> 00:25:21,449 weekend without you, but we're glad to have you back. Whenever you do get back out there, do you? Do 269 00:25:21,449 --> 00:25:24,490 you get out there and hack around a little bit? Now that you've got a little more time with the 270 00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:30,129 kids grown? Yeah, yeah. About that once a week. Okay. That's out there. Yeah. That's what us fellow 271 00:25:30,130 --> 00:25:35,250 golfers like to hear once a week. That's great. Uh, Rachel, how about for you? Same question. Uh, 272 00:25:35,250 --> 00:25:40,489 anything that sticks out in your mind that you sacrificed as a mom and maybe sacrificed isn't 273 00:25:40,490 --> 00:25:45,448 the right word. What Andrea said there really did kind of resonate with me. She said, I don't really 274 00:25:45,449 --> 00:25:50,049 look at it as a sacrifice because I do it again, time and again. Is there anything that you gave up? 275 00:25:50,050 --> 00:25:56,370 Maybe that's a better way to put it. Um, because you you had to give it up as a mom because of 276 00:25:56,370 --> 00:26:01,369 your career or vice versa. You had to give it up for your career because you were a mom. Yeah, I 277 00:26:01,370 --> 00:26:07,329 guess the the big one that sticks out in my mind. And this is a me decision. This is not like if I 278 00:26:07,329 --> 00:26:11,969 wanted to offer these things, Andrea would absolutely understand. But, you know, doing things 279 00:26:11,969 --> 00:26:17,439 like, um, going on school field trips or, you know, taking a day off to go to their field day or 280 00:26:17,439 --> 00:26:24,399 whatever. I choose to skip things like that, um, and come to work and save my PTO, because one thing 281 00:26:24,399 --> 00:26:30,599 that my son and I have established is our our vacations are very important to us. We do mom and 282 00:26:30,599 --> 00:26:36,759 son trips on a regular basis and we love doing those. So I like to plan my time off for those 283 00:26:36,759 --> 00:26:42,119 things and then kind of make the sacrifices in in other ways that are not so important to my son. 284 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:48,239 Like he doesn't really care all that much if I miss field Day, you know? Sure. So things like that. 285 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:53,119 Um, you know, it's it's a sacrifice, but there's give and take and and like I said, we make up for 286 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:59,039 it on our little trips, and we love those. And, um, again, just just to reiterate, that's that's a 287 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:05,119 personal decision. And one thing that I can say about working for Bulk Transit is 288 00:27:05,839 --> 00:27:11,559 Andrea is completely understanding of my home life and and what I need and in support of 289 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:17,199 whatever I need to make happen in order to be successful in my career and as a mom. And so I'm 290 00:27:17,199 --> 00:27:21,959 very thankful to work for a company that is understanding of that. For sure, for sure. And, you 291 00:27:21,959 --> 00:27:28,679 know, I think that that's there's another really good analogy there. You know, you're not you're not 292 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:33,159 making these decisions on because you don't want to you get to go do something. You're making these 293 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:37,998 decisions so that you get to save that PTO time to go on those trips, which are so much more 294 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:43,119 impactful to your son. I have to ask you, I'm not letting you get out of here without telling me 295 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:48,838 where was the last mom and son vacation and where's the next one? So they're actually both the 296 00:27:48,839 --> 00:27:55,800 same place. Um, we have annual passes to Universal Studios, so we go down every couple months. 297 00:27:55,959 --> 00:28:01,719 We stay at the Universal hotels and, like, we have the whole thing worked out. We are universal 298 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:08,679 experts. He is so funny. He actually, we were standing in line and this one kid 299 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:12,910 said something about like, oh, it's been so long since we've been here. And my son was like, oh yeah, 300 00:28:12,910 --> 00:28:18,309 it's been really long for us too. It's been at least a couple months. Like he has no concept that 301 00:28:18,310 --> 00:28:25,109 other people do not do this. That is. Awesome. This trip was, uh, was for Mardi 302 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:29,789 Gras. It's a family-friendly Mardi Gras down at Universal Studios. And he that's his favorite trip 303 00:28:29,790 --> 00:28:34,709 that we do. Um, and then we're going to do one in the summer and then we go back for Halloween as 304 00:28:34,709 --> 00:28:39,548 well. Oh how cool. Halloween at Universal Studios has got to be awesome for the little guy. 305 00:28:39,549 --> 00:28:45,069 Absolutely amazing. Yeah. As he already picked his costume out. No okay. Gotta wait. There's. He thinks 306 00:28:45,069 --> 00:28:50,269 about Halloween all year long. That's his favorite holiday. Uh, my wife's the same way, so I totally 307 00:28:50,270 --> 00:28:55,548 understand that, uh, she's gone through three costume iterations already, and it's, uh, April, so 308 00:28:55,589 --> 00:29:01,270 May, you know, it's like, I get that, uh, Kelly, I want to. I want to toss that same question to you. Um, 309 00:29:01,270 --> 00:29:05,709 anything that you've had to give up, uh, as a mom because of your career or vice versa, that sticks 310 00:29:05,709 --> 00:29:11,939 out in your mind. So I, I agree a lot with Andrea. A lot of it's time. Getting 311 00:29:12,060 --> 00:29:18,859 completely honest, I think as a mom I gave up who I was. I 312 00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:25,300 kind of became like the sole provider for my kids. So 313 00:29:25,619 --> 00:29:32,299 my my role in life and everything that I needed to do 314 00:29:32,340 --> 00:29:38,980 that became my goal. And that being a mom, keeping my kids safe, 315 00:29:39,139 --> 00:29:45,539 working. That's who I became. So now that my kids are grown, um, 316 00:29:45,579 --> 00:29:51,139 I'm just learning to figure out who I am. 317 00:29:52,859 --> 00:29:58,618 That's great. I I'm I'm I'm happy for you that you're that you're able to, uh, you know, rediscover 318 00:29:58,619 --> 00:30:03,738 some old loves. Is there anything that you've, that you've rediscovered since your kids have grown 319 00:30:03,739 --> 00:30:10,739 that you're you're thinking, man, I, I'm glad that I got back into this. Um. well, like I, 320 00:30:10,740 --> 00:30:17,539 I used to, um, before I had kids, I would spend a lot of time writing and 321 00:30:17,539 --> 00:30:24,459 doing poetry and things like that. And I actually have the time now to sit 322 00:30:24,459 --> 00:30:30,900 down and do that, regardless if it's good or bad. But, um, I had an opportunity 323 00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:37,779 when, um, my youngest daughter was 2 or 3, um, I was invited 324 00:30:37,779 --> 00:30:44,380 to a national conference, um, and asked to read my poetry and things like that, 325 00:30:44,380 --> 00:30:51,059 so I didn't I ended up not going. You know, I had kids, I had obligations. That's one of the things 326 00:30:51,060 --> 00:30:57,738 that I turned down. You know, as a mom. So now I can sit down and I can start writing again 327 00:30:57,739 --> 00:31:03,699 and, and, um, doing, like, my poetry and stuff, and it it it feels good. But then I'm just like, oh, my 328 00:31:03,699 --> 00:31:10,408 gosh, I'm doing something by myself. But yeah, that's 329 00:31:10,409 --> 00:31:15,849 that's probably one of the things that I have found myself getting back into that I really do 330 00:31:15,889 --> 00:31:21,449 enjoy. That's great. I'm so glad to hear that. And you know, the other thing that I think of from a 331 00:31:21,490 --> 00:31:28,449 from a creative standpoint, um, you've got so much more inspiration after, uh, living the, the, uh, 332 00:31:28,449 --> 00:31:33,130 adolescent life with your kids that they did, like, you've got all this new poetry to write, I'm sure, 333 00:31:33,169 --> 00:31:38,769 is that. Do you find that it's kind of just spilling out of you at this point? Um, yeah. Once I 334 00:31:38,770 --> 00:31:45,409 can figure out, like, you know, I have to figure out what those feelings are and what those emotions 335 00:31:45,410 --> 00:31:51,368 are first, right? Um, and then they kind of end up on paper. But, um, 336 00:31:52,689 --> 00:31:59,208 I use a lot of the things that I've gone through as a young mom and as 337 00:31:59,289 --> 00:32:05,929 a, a younger grandma, and, um, those, those just seem to be 338 00:32:05,929 --> 00:32:12,729 continuing along in the poetry that I started writing again. So, um. Sitting down with a cup of 339 00:32:12,729 --> 00:32:19,330 coffee and a notebook is my thing. That's so cool. Well, listen, I know that what I'm about to say 340 00:32:19,330 --> 00:32:24,369 here is probably going to hit, like, a ton of bricks, and, uh, you're never obligated. But if you 341 00:32:24,369 --> 00:32:30,089 would ever like to come on. Always pneumatic, never static and read some of your poetry, I will make 342 00:32:30,090 --> 00:32:35,290 room for it. I'll ask Andrea right now, live on the air, because I know she would love to hear it, too. 343 00:32:35,330 --> 00:32:40,810 So, uh, we will make room, but obviously you're not obligated. I know that would be kind of a big step. 344 00:32:40,810 --> 00:32:45,409 So if you're ever thinking that, that's something you want to do. Kelly. Always pneumatic. Never 345 00:32:45,410 --> 00:32:50,969 statics. You're spot. Okay, we'll make room. I'll see what I can put together. Hey. That's awesome. That's 346 00:32:50,970 --> 00:32:56,369 so. Cool. I love to hear that, Kelly. Absolutely. I would love it to. And and you know, the reason I 347 00:32:56,369 --> 00:33:01,330 asked that question and I did say I, I'm asking this because it's real. You heard a little bit of 348 00:33:01,330 --> 00:33:08,119 emotion come out there and it's not because, um, of anything other than that's just what life will do 349 00:33:08,119 --> 00:33:12,159 to you. It's it's a lot. One of the things we illustrated here over the last few minutes is 350 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:17,718 there's a lot of forces pulling at a mom, especially one working a 40 hour a week job at 351 00:33:17,719 --> 00:33:23,400 once. And a lot of times that can be a really heavy thing. And Mother's Day is a great time to 352 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:29,039 acknowledge those things and to say, thanks, mom. We appreciate the sacrifice. I'll say it to my mom 353 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:34,239 right now. I know if we had your kids on here right now, they would all say it as well. And I 354 00:33:34,239 --> 00:33:39,920 just really appreciate you sharing that emotion with us. All three of you. Um, you know, we want to 355 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:43,919 be as real as we can on this show. And I'd say that did a pretty good job of taking a tick in 356 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:50,839 that box. So, um, Rachel, I, I, I want to come to you next here. Being a single mom, uh, a lot of 357 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:56,119 times, what you think of is there's no safety net. There's no second set of hands. You did mention, uh, 358 00:33:56,119 --> 00:34:00,679 a second set of hands. That's helped out a little bit, but what does that reality actually look like 359 00:34:00,719 --> 00:34:06,949 on your hardest day at work. I'll take you back to our conversation last week. Um, you've got a ton of 360 00:34:06,949 --> 00:34:12,909 calls to make. The market is hot. There's a lot of drivers to sift through. Everything is happening. 361 00:34:13,030 --> 00:34:18,589 If I made Chicken Little this, the sky is falling at work. But the sky also might be falling at home. 362 00:34:18,629 --> 00:34:24,589 What's that reality look like to you? Yeah. So days like that are hard. Um, I specifically can can 363 00:34:24,629 --> 00:34:31,069 think of. Um, you know, there is one day that, uh, things were kind of crazy in general, 364 00:34:31,070 --> 00:34:37,949 just with life in general. Um, and my son had called me to come get 365 00:34:37,949 --> 00:34:44,510 him, or the nurse had called me to come get him. And this was like, uh, something that he was doing, 366 00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:51,189 like weekly. And, you know, I, uh, I went in and had a conversation with Andrea and, you 367 00:34:51,189 --> 00:34:56,029 know, kind of had some of that emotion come out because I didn't know what's going on with him. 368 00:34:56,030 --> 00:35:02,869 And, you know, I was trying to balance getting my work done and figuring out why he is 369 00:35:02,870 --> 00:35:07,349 wanting me to come get him from school all the time, you know? Is it something that he's dealing 370 00:35:07,350 --> 00:35:13,869 with emotionally? Is it something going on at school? Like what is going on? And, um, so I, 371 00:35:14,789 --> 00:35:19,388 you know, it's a struggle to to balance that and figure all that out and have all of that weighing 372 00:35:19,389 --> 00:35:25,590 on me while I'm also trying to, you know, be at work and talk to drivers, and you don't want to 373 00:35:25,629 --> 00:35:31,829 answer the phone all, you know, down in the dumps and, and have that come out over the phone too. So 374 00:35:31,870 --> 00:35:37,469 yeah, there's, there's a lot of, uh, difficulty in situations like that. Well, we talked about that, 375 00:35:37,669 --> 00:35:43,469 you know, kind of first impressions last week and, and, um, you know, how you can tell sometimes if 376 00:35:43,469 --> 00:35:48,949 there's red flags, green flags, gray flags, right off the bat, I'm sure a prospective driver calling 377 00:35:48,950 --> 00:35:53,989 in and getting a recruiting and retention manager that's hair is on fire also probably does some 378 00:35:53,989 --> 00:35:58,229 things on their side. So it's like that's not that's not the way you want to approach your job. 379 00:35:58,229 --> 00:36:03,378 You can tell. Yeah. I don't think anybody wants to call in to the recruiter and have them be like, 380 00:36:03,419 --> 00:36:10,299 what do you want? Yeah, right. Yeah. What's next? Who's this? Gosh, I totally get that. Uh, 381 00:36:10,340 --> 00:36:15,019 Andrea and Kelly, I'm going to take it to a little bit of a different place for you. I want to talk 382 00:36:15,059 --> 00:36:19,580 about the empty nest. That was something that I know my mom struggled with. I was the youngest 383 00:36:19,580 --> 00:36:25,739 child, and when I went off to college, I know it was tough on her. And I know I. I'm seeing my 384 00:36:25,740 --> 00:36:32,539 sister's boys grow up right now, and while they're only like 13 and ten, they look like they're 18 385 00:36:32,579 --> 00:36:36,860 and 22 and they're going to be in a blink of an eye. And I know she's going to struggle with it 386 00:36:36,860 --> 00:36:41,899 when they leave the house. So let's talk a little bit about that. Andrea, I'll go to you first. Uh, you 387 00:36:41,899 --> 00:36:46,819 mentioned, you know, both of you mentioned getting to rediscover some old hobbies, but was it tough 388 00:36:46,820 --> 00:36:53,418 that first few days, months, weeks, uh, when you didn't have any kids in the house? Andrea. Yeah, 389 00:36:53,419 --> 00:36:58,139 it's. It was a little bizarre. And, you know, I see where Kelly's coming from. You kind of have to 390 00:36:58,179 --> 00:37:03,339 reinvent yourself. You're like, okay, my I've been mom. You know, and you're still mom. It's not like 391 00:37:03,340 --> 00:37:09,699 you ever stopped worrying. But, um, yeah, I think the weirdest thing was I used to come home from work, 392 00:37:09,699 --> 00:37:15,139 and I look at my. I look at my husband Sean, and I'd say, Sean, do you hear that? And he'd say, no. And 393 00:37:15,139 --> 00:37:22,099 I'm like, exactly. Quiet, peace and quiet. And that was really fun for a 394 00:37:22,100 --> 00:37:27,979 little while. And then after a while, the peace and quiet, wow. It just gets it's a little deafening, 395 00:37:28,019 --> 00:37:33,219 honestly. And then you realize we've got to do something. And that's when we started, you know, 396 00:37:33,259 --> 00:37:39,859 golfing together and joined a golf club. And, um, yeah, it's it's crazy. Now, my, our daughter went 397 00:37:39,860 --> 00:37:46,739 to UC for a year and a half. And so we really were empty nesters, um, for a year and a half. But she's 398 00:37:46,739 --> 00:37:53,419 now back, so my empty nest is not empty anymore. But okay. I love having her. And she's in 399 00:37:53,419 --> 00:37:59,530 nursing school here in Columbus, and our sons out in California. And I miss him a ton. And I love 400 00:37:59,530 --> 00:38:04,609 having Kayla with us that I am hoping she just stays for a little while, but still encouraging 401 00:38:04,610 --> 00:38:11,008 her to leave. Obviously, I know that's what I should be doing as a mom, but I do love having her 402 00:38:11,009 --> 00:38:16,529 at home. Well, that that nursing school on the horizon there. That's a good that's a good, uh, I 403 00:38:16,530 --> 00:38:20,529 guess, telltale sign that eventually she's probably going to take off. Right. But that's a 404 00:38:20,530 --> 00:38:25,089 pretty good chance. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's cool. I didn't know that you had a couple kids out here 405 00:38:25,129 --> 00:38:30,128 on the West Coast. You said. You see, I'm. I'm imagining that's University of California. No. Well, 406 00:38:30,170 --> 00:38:35,729 Kayla went to UC, which is University of Cincinnati. Oh, Cincinnati. Okay. Yeah. And then 407 00:38:35,729 --> 00:38:42,090 Connor. Is. Yeah. Sorry. No. I'm sorry, I'm a West coaster, so my UC is just a different UC. That's 408 00:38:42,090 --> 00:38:48,009 all there is. I'm sorry for the confusion. Yeah, yeah, she's in Cincinnati and Connor is in LA. Oh, 409 00:38:48,009 --> 00:38:53,249 okay. Great. Well, that's nice to get out there and visit them once in a while in sunny LA right? Yes, 410 00:38:53,249 --> 00:38:58,998 yes. Once you figure out, like, where to go. Like the first time we did it, it was not good. Yeah, we sat 411 00:38:58,999 --> 00:39:04,519 in traffic the entire time and literally got nothing done. Yeah. Hollywood Boulevard. Boulevard. 412 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:07,958 Not what it used to be. Not where I would recommend you go. That's where my wife and I 413 00:39:07,959 --> 00:39:13,359 stayed back in 2020, right before the world fell apart in Covid. We went down there for a Rose Bowl 414 00:39:13,399 --> 00:39:19,039 and we we were so excited to stay in this old historic hotel. And I was like, this does not seem 415 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:25,239 like the Hollywood that they've shown me on the pictures. Yes. Exactly. A lot of it's a lie. You have 416 00:39:25,239 --> 00:39:30,679 to go north, go to the hills, go to the mountains. Stay outside. Beautiful. Out there in Pasadena, 417 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:35,840 where the Rose Bowl is like that. Did you know that that stadium sits on a golf course? Like you 418 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:41,119 actually tailgate on a golf course when you go to the Rose Bowl? Did you know that? Andrea? No, I did 419 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:47,079 not know that. That is wild. I was so upset that nobody told me that because I rolled in and all 420 00:39:47,079 --> 00:39:51,679 my Oregon gear ready for a football game, and I could have played 18 holes of golf before the 421 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:57,280 game. I was so upset. But yeah, it's it's about finding the right places in LA for sure. Good 422 00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:03,239 point there. Um, Kelly, I, I want to go to you with kind of the same question. Uh, was it hard at first 423 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:08,039 when the nest emptied out? Um, you talked about rediscovering some hobbies. Obviously that's a 424 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:13,158 good thing, but were there other emotions involved? Was it just different? Kind of like Andrea said 425 00:40:13,159 --> 00:40:19,199 for those first few weeks or months? Um, I think it I in our situation, 426 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:26,519 um, I agree with Andrea somewhat, but my when my kids 427 00:40:26,519 --> 00:40:33,199 all left the nest and I, I walked in the door for the first time and I thought, 428 00:40:33,240 --> 00:40:40,039 whoa, this is nice, but oh, but, um, I 429 00:40:40,399 --> 00:40:47,079 your kids never stop needing you. And they never stop visiting, and they never stop, you know, 430 00:40:47,120 --> 00:40:53,549 calling my middle daughter shall call me on FaceTime 4 or 5 times every day. Um, so 431 00:40:55,230 --> 00:41:02,069 I guess when you look at the whole empty nest thing, maybe the house is more empty. But I think, 432 00:41:02,270 --> 00:41:09,229 I think our relationship has gotten a lot better. Um, just because 433 00:41:10,149 --> 00:41:16,948 I think they have realized as adults now what it did take to be a mom, and they have kids 434 00:41:16,949 --> 00:41:22,269 theirself, so they're seeing that. But I don't I don't know that the empty nest thing really 435 00:41:23,189 --> 00:41:30,189 became a huge thing for me. Um, maybe for the first couple of days I was pretty 436 00:41:30,229 --> 00:41:35,388 devastated. But after that, you know, but I was always on the phone with them. They were always 437 00:41:35,389 --> 00:41:40,350 still asking questions and needing things, and they do to this day. Um, and then came the 438 00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:47,269 grandkids. So they were at the house every weekend for a while. Oh, perfect. Perfect. So it wasn't a 439 00:41:47,269 --> 00:41:53,829 hard transition for me now. The whole golfing thing for Andrea. I can't do it. There's. I 440 00:41:54,070 --> 00:42:00,709 don't go hit a ball with a stick. I, I don't have that coordination. So good for her. 441 00:42:00,709 --> 00:42:07,549 But I can't do it. Hey, you'll stick to the pin in the pad and that's fine. That's 442 00:42:07,589 --> 00:42:13,069 a that definitely clears out the cobwebs upstairs as well. And I would suffice what you just told me, 443 00:42:13,110 --> 00:42:18,349 Kelly, to say that the nest isn't empty or the nest may be empty. Excuse me, but the heart is 444 00:42:18,350 --> 00:42:24,949 still very full. Would you. Would you agree with that? Yeah. Um, the nest never goes away. Yeah. And 445 00:42:24,990 --> 00:42:31,109 that's awesome. And they always come back and and they're, they're always still needing mom. So it's 446 00:42:31,110 --> 00:42:36,549 it's never really, truly an empty nest I guess. I love that your daughter calls you 3 or 4 times a 447 00:42:36,550 --> 00:42:41,509 day on FaceTime. That's being the rock. That's what a mom is right there. Because those are sometimes 448 00:42:41,509 --> 00:42:45,709 those are just because she wants to talk. But other times it's because life has gotten in the 449 00:42:45,710 --> 00:42:52,699 way. And I need some advice, right? Yep. Yep. Yeah. Most recently. Most recently. She was so proud 450 00:42:52,699 --> 00:42:58,980 of herself that she got a new Wii game system. So she had to call me, and we had to unbox the Wii 451 00:42:59,019 --> 00:43:05,339 together. And. And she's going to call me today after she gets home from school so I can see her 452 00:43:05,340 --> 00:43:11,939 playing the Wii, so. Oh, that's great. That's great. But I get to celebrate the little things with 453 00:43:11,939 --> 00:43:17,739 them. And, and, um, even if it's, you know, FaceTime or whatever, um, 454 00:43:19,019 --> 00:43:25,419 empty nest is, is not always just empty. Sure, sure. It almost sounds like that little FaceTime, uh, 455 00:43:25,419 --> 00:43:30,739 relationship that you have with your daughter is like your own, uh, independent YouTube page for her. 456 00:43:30,740 --> 00:43:35,059 You just get to watch her unbox her things or cook or meals or whatever she's doing at that 457 00:43:35,060 --> 00:43:41,699 point in time. You're right there. We probably could be one of those influencers online 458 00:43:41,740 --> 00:43:48,259 doing our little YouTube show every day. I bet my granddaughter. That's her daughter. 459 00:43:48,659 --> 00:43:55,499 Um, every time she calls on FaceTime, I say hi, pumpkin, and she'll say, hi, pumpkin. So that's 460 00:43:55,499 --> 00:44:02,299 what she has grown up to. Call me, I'm me, me to the other grandbabies. But I'm pumpkin to her and 461 00:44:04,179 --> 00:44:11,100 we get looks in the store. And I am a 41 year old man that my mom 462 00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:16,939 still calls Buddy or Bud every single time she sees me and I. You know what? When she stops, that's 463 00:44:16,940 --> 00:44:22,100 when I'll notice it doesn't. I don't notice it at all. So I love some pet names. I haven't called my 464 00:44:22,100 --> 00:44:26,819 wife anything but sweetheart and babe for since we got married. And I know sometimes that's a 465 00:44:26,819 --> 00:44:31,139 little bit weird in public, but I don't care. Those are terms of endearment. That's what it means. 466 00:44:31,139 --> 00:44:35,898 That's how much it means to me. Uh, your normal name is for everybody else. I've made this one up 467 00:44:35,899 --> 00:44:39,698 for you, and that's what we get to stick with. There's a special place in your heart for that, 468 00:44:39,699 --> 00:44:45,530 isn't there, Kelly? Yep. And she will notice the first time you call her by her real name? Yeah, 469 00:44:45,649 --> 00:44:52,169 absolutely. I want to do a kind of a quick hitter round here with you guys, and go around the table 470 00:44:52,169 --> 00:44:57,850 and just let you guys each answer these quick questions. Um, and these are all about kind of 471 00:44:57,889 --> 00:45:03,249 being a mom here. Uh, Andrea, I'm going to start with you. One word you think your kids would use 472 00:45:03,250 --> 00:45:09,449 to describe you as a mom. Huh? I would say intuition. 473 00:45:10,649 --> 00:45:16,129 They they. That's a good one. You know that I, I typically have an intuition about something like, 474 00:45:16,169 --> 00:45:22,050 you know, you see those, those reels where, like, you know, the mom's on the way before the the child 475 00:45:22,050 --> 00:45:26,569 even has a chance to call. That's what they say about me. Like, I always have a feeling about 476 00:45:26,569 --> 00:45:32,969 something even before it happens. Yeah, yeah. Do you ever get the thing where you were thinking about 477 00:45:32,969 --> 00:45:37,408 something completely different? Maybe it's payroll, and all of a sudden one of your kids randomly 478 00:45:37,409 --> 00:45:42,840 pops into your head, and then you look down in the phone, rings. Does that happen to you? Yes, it does 479 00:45:42,840 --> 00:45:48,279 happen. It is a little. That's that. Mother intuition. Yeah, it is right. It's weird because 480 00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:52,759 it's like there's something going on in that phone that the electricity is. It's kicking off 481 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:58,039 synapses in my brain. I'll never be smart enough to understand it, but I do think it's kind of cool, 482 00:45:58,080 --> 00:46:02,839 you know, because it happens to me from time to time. Probably nowhere near as much as it happens 483 00:46:02,840 --> 00:46:07,759 to somebody with the intuition of a mom. But, Andrea, I think that's awesome. Rachel. Same one for 484 00:46:07,759 --> 00:46:13,759 you. One word. You think your kid would use to describe you? And and I'm. I'm. Am I going to fun 485 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:17,879 here? That's where I'm fine. Because I'm hearing about these universal vacations. And I'm thinking 486 00:46:17,879 --> 00:46:24,359 it might just be an easy one. Fun. I am a fun mom. I pride myself on being the fun mom. I mean, to a 487 00:46:24,360 --> 00:46:29,199 certain extent, obviously you still have to, you know, be the parent there. But, um, yeah, I think he 488 00:46:29,240 --> 00:46:35,320 he would describe me as as fun. Um, we do all kinds of stuff together. We're always looking for new 489 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:41,878 adventures to try. Kelly, one word your kids would use to describe you as a mom. I think I'm going to 490 00:46:41,879 --> 00:46:47,879 go with open. That's a good one. That's a really good one. So you're you're that mom that they can 491 00:46:48,120 --> 00:46:52,959 say anything to without worrying about the repercussions. And they absolutely will. 492 00:46:54,600 --> 00:47:01,399 Sometimes to a fault. Right? Kelly. Yeah. You can't you can't redraw 493 00:47:01,399 --> 00:47:05,639 that line once that line's been erased and they feel comfortable with it, there's no going back, 494 00:47:05,639 --> 00:47:12,399 right? It just gets worse. The older they get, it just gets worse. Yep, yep. And let me tell you from 495 00:47:12,399 --> 00:47:16,439 my own experience, because that's the line that my parents and I have as well. There is no line. 496 00:47:16,439 --> 00:47:21,399 Everything's on the table. Uh, it'll only keep getting worse as they get into their 30s and 40s, 497 00:47:21,399 --> 00:47:26,319 because that's when their problems just compound and get harder to solve. Uh, so I'm sure they're 498 00:47:26,320 --> 00:47:31,719 glad they have you there. Yeah. I never want my kids to feel like they can't come and talk to me, 499 00:47:31,719 --> 00:47:38,359 so I, I've, I've remained open to them. Um, the good or the 500 00:47:38,389 --> 00:47:44,789 bad. That's awesome. Next question I've got and thank you all for that one. Uh, this one's a little 501 00:47:44,830 --> 00:47:49,349 bit more existential, maybe, and it's going to be different for all of you because your kids are 502 00:47:49,429 --> 00:47:56,109 different ages. But, uh, one thing, Andrea, you hope your kids understand about you as a mom 503 00:47:56,110 --> 00:48:03,029 someday. Um, yeah, I hope I hope that they understand that everything that we did, we did 504 00:48:03,070 --> 00:48:08,468 because we thought it was the best for them and that, you know, we had to make some tough decisions 505 00:48:08,469 --> 00:48:14,189 along the way. And it was always with their best interest at heart. And that we're not perfect. 506 00:48:14,189 --> 00:48:18,229 Certainly we made our we made our mistakes along the way. But I just hope they they know that we 507 00:48:18,270 --> 00:48:23,669 definitely tried our best. I bet they do. Rachel, how about you? Uh, one thing you hope your kids 508 00:48:23,669 --> 00:48:28,349 understand someday. That's actually exactly what I was thinking when you first asked the question. I 509 00:48:28,350 --> 00:48:34,269 was going to say. I hope he knows I tried my best. Yeah. Um, it's, you know, it's it's hard to balance 510 00:48:34,270 --> 00:48:41,229 everything, and, um, I, I try really hard to, you know, devote my time and 511 00:48:41,229 --> 00:48:47,270 attention to him and give him what he needs while still, you know, working on myself as well. And and 512 00:48:47,270 --> 00:48:53,349 I'm nowhere near perfect. And I know that, you know, things are not perfect. Life is not perfect. But I 513 00:48:53,350 --> 00:48:59,710 hope that he understands that everything that I did was, um, trying to do what I thought was best 514 00:48:59,710 --> 00:49:04,709 at the time. Well, just have him listen to this podcast episode when he turns 18. I'm sure you'll 515 00:49:04,710 --> 00:49:09,989 get to see your grown son cry, because, uh, I'll tell you the emotions that this is bringing up in 516 00:49:09,989 --> 00:49:14,908 my chest right now. Just hearing you all talk about it. Uh, wow. Uh, I'm. I'm having some issues 517 00:49:14,909 --> 00:49:19,549 over here, but that's why I've got questions, and you guys can talk. Kelly, same question for you. 518 00:49:19,550 --> 00:49:25,148 Something you hope your kids understand about you as a mom someday. I think I gotta go with Andrea 519 00:49:25,149 --> 00:49:31,030 and Rachel on this one, too. Um, and I think that's probably a universal answer for every mom out 520 00:49:31,030 --> 00:49:37,820 there. Um, just realizing that we tried our best. There's no mom manual out 521 00:49:37,820 --> 00:49:44,259 there, so you just have to go with with what you've learned, what you know and what your 522 00:49:44,259 --> 00:49:51,179 heart's telling you. Well said, well said Andrea, your biggest fear as a mom. And this 523 00:49:51,179 --> 00:49:57,259 can be now. Or if it was earlier and you've you've been fortunate enough to dispel that fear. Um, I 524 00:49:57,260 --> 00:50:04,139 guess my biggest fear is in which my son will. He knows this. Um, I'm just afraid that he's 525 00:50:04,139 --> 00:50:08,860 going to get married to somebody someday and that maybe she won't love me. 526 00:50:11,260 --> 00:50:17,740 And I'll lose. Napa Valley. Or lose my son to to her and her family. Which, you know, as long as he's 527 00:50:17,740 --> 00:50:23,539 happy, I would let go. I would I would let this happen, but I just I want to gain a daughter and 528 00:50:23,540 --> 00:50:28,819 not lose a son. So it's like one of my my biggest fears is my kids are getting a little older and 529 00:50:28,819 --> 00:50:34,850 finding themselves in relationships and whatnot. So yeah, I just I just pray that, you know, we can 530 00:50:34,850 --> 00:50:41,009 add somebody to the family and not lose Connor along the way. I totally understand that. As the 531 00:50:41,010 --> 00:50:46,728 youngest boy in my family, uh, the the first woman that I thought was going to I was going to marry. 532 00:50:46,850 --> 00:50:52,329 Um, there were some issues between her and my mom and my sister, and I will put it softly and leave 533 00:50:52,329 --> 00:50:57,049 it at that, because we could do a whole podcast on that. Uh, it turned out it didn't end up that way, 534 00:50:57,050 --> 00:51:01,289 but I know that that was something that my mom was was scared of because I've seen it happen 535 00:51:01,289 --> 00:51:07,489 before. You know, I, I have some relatives, I have some friends who, um, they, they kind of just devote 536 00:51:07,489 --> 00:51:11,729 their whole life to their wife. And if their wife doesn't like their family, then that's it. There is 537 00:51:11,730 --> 00:51:17,129 really no coming back from it. So it's a very legitimate fear, Andrea. And, uh, I will say this 538 00:51:17,129 --> 00:51:22,168 about you. How could anyone not like you? I mean, come on, I've spent enough time talking to you now. 539 00:51:22,250 --> 00:51:28,209 That's crazy. There's no way anybody's out there not liking Andrea. Uh, I, I will I'll send the same 540 00:51:28,209 --> 00:51:34,329 one over to you, Rachel. We'll keep going in the same order. Biggest fear as a mom. I would have to 541 00:51:34,330 --> 00:51:40,049 say my biggest fear as a mom is just worrying about whether or not what I do with him is gonna 542 00:51:40,090 --> 00:51:46,688 ultimately end up screwing him up as an adult. Um, my son is unique because he is very mature for 543 00:51:46,689 --> 00:51:52,489 his age, so I have to always think about, like, am I putting too much on him? Am I, you know, 544 00:51:53,610 --> 00:52:00,609 pushing him past his his, um, limits of where he should be at his age because he's 11. But talking 545 00:52:00,649 --> 00:52:06,969 to him, you could talk to him like a grown adult. And expectations there can can be a little 546 00:52:07,010 --> 00:52:10,969 challenging to kind of balance. You know, think about he's still a kid and I have to keep that in 547 00:52:10,969 --> 00:52:17,049 mind. So yeah, I think my biggest fear is, uh, making sure that I don't screw him up too much. I think 548 00:52:17,170 --> 00:52:23,049 we're all a little traumatized from our parents in one way or another, but, uh, hopefully I don't do 549 00:52:23,090 --> 00:52:27,129 too much of that to him. Uh, I think it's unavoidable, even if you're trying your best. I 550 00:52:27,129 --> 00:52:31,918 think that little bit of trauma that comes from being a kid just comes from being a kid. And 551 00:52:31,919 --> 00:52:38,839 exactly. Uh. Well said there, Rachel. Kelly, I'll go to you. Biggest fear as a mom. Uh, biggest fear as 552 00:52:38,840 --> 00:52:45,799 a mom is probably something happening to one of my kids and me not being there. Okay, 553 00:52:45,999 --> 00:52:51,759 that's a very good one. And and can you expand on that a little bit? Oh, so 554 00:52:52,759 --> 00:52:59,719 my oldest daughter is having some medical issues and my biggest 555 00:52:59,719 --> 00:53:06,679 fear is something happening and me not getting there fast enough. I totally 556 00:53:06,680 --> 00:53:12,839 understand that. And is she is she, uh, proximity away from you? Where? That's a possibility. Kelly. 557 00:53:14,080 --> 00:53:20,638 Um, currently, I'm about an hour and a half from her, but she has plans to move to 558 00:53:20,679 --> 00:53:27,600 Louisiana. Um, so that's quite the distance. Um, yeah. 559 00:53:28,040 --> 00:53:34,959 So as she's navigating these medical issues, um, that fear is very real 560 00:53:34,960 --> 00:53:41,599 for me. I can tell, I can really tell. And I and I think it goes to show what I can hear in your 561 00:53:41,600 --> 00:53:46,959 voice right now, Kelly, is that this is, uh, very much a real fear and very much could come to 562 00:53:47,000 --> 00:53:52,878 fruition. And that's one of the reasons it's weighing so heavy on you. I, I, I'm, I'm sorry that 563 00:53:52,879 --> 00:53:57,439 your daughter is dealing with that. And I can't imagine what it must be like to, uh, to to feel 564 00:53:57,439 --> 00:54:02,239 that way each and every day. Um, do you, do you keep in good touch with this daughter, though, as she's 565 00:54:02,240 --> 00:54:07,280 going through this? I assume he seems like you keep in really good touch with all your kids. Um, I 566 00:54:07,280 --> 00:54:13,840 do. Yes, as much as I can. Um, she's not a phone person. She's a she's not a FaceTime. Or, like, the 567 00:54:13,840 --> 00:54:19,840 middle one is. Um, but I do keep in contact with her, and I, you know, I do, you know, keep the 568 00:54:19,840 --> 00:54:26,629 grandkids every now and again and, and, um, I, I stay informed with the 569 00:54:26,629 --> 00:54:33,189 things that she's going through. Just so I, I, I could kind of 570 00:54:33,749 --> 00:54:40,229 not be so fearful, but it's a very new thing and it is a very emotional 571 00:54:40,229 --> 00:54:46,829 thing. Oh, I, I can tell I can 100% tell. And listen, the one thing I want to say is thank you for 572 00:54:46,830 --> 00:54:50,989 sharing that. I know it's not easy to share, and you don't have to share anything you don't want 573 00:54:50,989 --> 00:54:56,589 to on this podcast, but I know you're doing it for a reason. And that reason is your kids. And we 574 00:54:56,629 --> 00:55:01,790 can't thank you enough for being, you know, open and honest. You said, hey, I'm the open mom here in 575 00:55:01,790 --> 00:55:06,870 the group, and, and, uh, you're you're you're not underselling that at all, Kelly. And we appreciate 576 00:55:06,870 --> 00:55:11,909 that here on this podcast because it's real. And that's exactly what we want to do. We want to 577 00:55:11,909 --> 00:55:18,628 expose the real side of being a mom, especially a working mom, especially single mom. And, uh, you know, 578 00:55:18,990 --> 00:55:24,109 I just I thank you very much for bringing that up here today. I know it's tough and and I hope that 579 00:55:24,110 --> 00:55:30,459 it works out and she makes a full recovery through her medical issues. I'm sure she will. 580 00:55:30,620 --> 00:55:37,138 Um. Just at this point, we just continue to pray and and keep each other 581 00:55:37,139 --> 00:55:43,459 informed and and be there for each other. Um, my other kids are with her as well. 582 00:55:43,939 --> 00:55:50,779 Um, so that's just one of the bad parts of being a mom is, uh, having 583 00:55:50,820 --> 00:55:57,580 to go through the things that are hard. Sure, sure, I totally understand. Uh, ladies, I've got one 584 00:55:57,580 --> 00:56:01,620 last quick fire question for you. Then we're going to wrap this up and let you get back to it. I've 585 00:56:01,620 --> 00:56:06,259 had you here for even longer than I thought I would today, but this is so good and I can't let 586 00:56:06,259 --> 00:56:12,379 this last one go unasked. I would not be doing my job as a podcast host. And if you listen to the 587 00:56:12,379 --> 00:56:16,499 beginning of the episode, I already didn't do my job once because I forgot to ask Kelly what 588 00:56:16,579 --> 00:56:23,419 terminal she manages, so I won't fail again. Andrea, biggest point of pride as a 589 00:56:23,419 --> 00:56:30,218 mother. Oh, I guess for me it would just be. I'm just so proud of who they are as young 590 00:56:30,219 --> 00:56:36,899 adults. And, you know, they're both chasing their dreams and they're happy and, you know, and life is 591 00:56:36,899 --> 00:56:41,979 going to come at them and it has and, you know, in the way they've handled things and have just 592 00:56:41,979 --> 00:56:48,379 persevered. I'm just so, so proud of where they are right now. It's awesome. That's so well said that. 593 00:56:48,379 --> 00:56:52,139 And that's you know, I, I can't lie to you guys. This is exactly where I thought you were going to 594 00:56:52,139 --> 00:56:57,779 go with it. And I'm glad you did. Uh, Rachel, how about for you? Biggest source of pride as a mom? I 595 00:56:57,820 --> 00:57:04,419 would say just my relationship with my son. I think we have a great relationship. He is honest 596 00:57:04,419 --> 00:57:10,498 with me. He is open with me. And, you know, like like you said, I enjoy being the fun mom. And I think 597 00:57:10,499 --> 00:57:16,138 that is evident. You know, anytime he even, like, goes to, um, you know, play with his friends, he's, 598 00:57:16,139 --> 00:57:19,899 he's got to include me there playing dodgeball. And he's like, hey, mom, you want to join my team? 599 00:57:19,939 --> 00:57:26,769 You know, so I, I think that is a source of pride for me in that we are so close and he like, thinks 600 00:57:26,770 --> 00:57:32,569 of me as his mom, but also as his friend. That's so cool, I love it. Kelly. Same thing too. You biggest 601 00:57:32,570 --> 00:57:38,049 source of pride as a mom. You know, I agree with Andrea and Rachel, but I'm going to go to the 602 00:57:38,050 --> 00:57:44,968 funny side of this. I kept these kids alive for 18 years. Amen. 603 00:57:45,850 --> 00:57:52,569 And they they are alive. And they're they're doing their own thing. And they are making their own 604 00:57:52,569 --> 00:57:59,408 relationships and having their own kids, and I. I kept them alive for 18 years. 605 00:57:59,450 --> 00:58:06,090 So. Well done. Good. Yeah. Great work on your end. I 606 00:58:06,129 --> 00:58:09,968 honestly kind of feel like those high school diplomas that you hang on the wall is also a 607 00:58:09,969 --> 00:58:15,689 certificate for the moms of the world. You kept them alive. Great job there. Done. Yeah. We all, we 608 00:58:15,689 --> 00:58:22,609 all deserve a trophy for just that. We kept them alive. You do? Well, ladies, I can't thank 609 00:58:22,610 --> 00:58:27,569 you enough. This has been such a great episode. All I wanted to do was show as much love to the moms 610 00:58:27,569 --> 00:58:34,569 today as we could. And talking about the sacrifice, the love, the support, the just the way that 611 00:58:34,569 --> 00:58:41,529 you feel. Uh, your your job as a mom applies to the world at large has been so cool to just sit 612 00:58:41,529 --> 00:58:45,928 here and get three different perspectives on it. Today. I've had so much fun. I want to give 613 00:58:45,929 --> 00:58:51,129 everybody a chance to do final thoughts. Um, now, Kelly, you this is your first appearance, but 614 00:58:51,130 --> 00:58:56,209 Rachel and Andrea know our Final Thoughts segment is wide open for you. If you want to do a shout 615 00:58:56,209 --> 00:59:01,729 out to your kids and say hi to them. If you want to shout out anybody at the at the company, you 616 00:59:01,730 --> 00:59:05,610 can say anything you want in this segment, especially if we left something on the table that 617 00:59:05,610 --> 00:59:10,049 we didn't get to talk about today. Andrea, since you're a bit of a vet at this at this point in 618 00:59:10,049 --> 00:59:14,369 time, I'm going to start with you. First and foremost, thank you so much for joining us for our 619 00:59:14,369 --> 00:59:19,240 Mother's Day special today. Final thoughts from you before we let you get back to it. Yeah. My 620 00:59:19,240 --> 00:59:24,799 final thoughts are obviously to wish both Rachel and Kelly happy Mother's Day, and then all of our 621 00:59:24,800 --> 00:59:30,599 other employees that are moms and wish them Happy Mother's Day and Happy Mother's Day to my mom. And 622 00:59:30,599 --> 00:59:36,600 then all the wives out there that you know, that are some of them are moms and, you know, the wives 623 00:59:36,600 --> 00:59:41,399 that are supporting their husbands and, and, and stuff like that in the truck. And then all of our 624 00:59:41,399 --> 00:59:46,680 moms that are drivers as well. I mean, that's not easy to do. I can't even imagine. So I just want to 625 00:59:46,680 --> 00:59:51,480 say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Well said. Great time to do it right here on our 626 00:59:51,480 --> 00:59:57,039 Mother's Day special. Rachel Dellaposta, thank you for your time today. Two weeks in a row we've had 627 00:59:57,040 --> 01:00:03,159 you here. We feel privileged. Uh, final thoughts from you on this Mother's Day special? Yeah. Happy 628 01:00:03,159 --> 01:00:08,399 Mother's day to all of the moms out there. Um, especially want to give a shout out to my mom. I 629 01:00:08,399 --> 01:00:13,399 know I had mentioned before that, you know, she's such a big help to me with my son, and I really do 630 01:00:13,399 --> 01:00:18,639 appreciate everything that she does. And and she does step up and help quite a bit. So I really 631 01:00:18,639 --> 01:00:25,639 appreciate that. I appreciate Bulk Transit because I could not be a good mom 632 01:00:25,639 --> 01:00:31,398 without having a company who supports my family life while I'm working, so I really appreciate 633 01:00:31,399 --> 01:00:38,120 that. And I mean, shout out to all of the moms who are drivers. It always amazes me when I talk to 634 01:00:38,159 --> 01:00:42,799 these moms who, you know, occasionally I'll get a mom who's an OTR driver and it's just like, how 635 01:00:42,840 --> 01:00:49,399 are you out on the road overnight and you're a mom and you're trying to balance all of that, and 636 01:00:49,400 --> 01:00:56,239 that is that's a lot. So shout out to all of the moms in the trucking industry. Do you ever ask 637 01:00:56,239 --> 01:01:00,840 any of those OTR moms how their hairlines doing? Because I feel like they might be pulling it out 638 01:01:00,840 --> 01:01:07,600 every now and then out there on the road? Kelly Cordova, the terminal manager out there 639 01:01:07,600 --> 01:01:12,559 at Piketon, making her first appearance today. You did awesome, Kelly. Thank you so much for the time. 640 01:01:12,680 --> 01:01:17,989 Final thoughts from you before we let you get back to managing that Piketon terminal. Um, I think 641 01:01:17,990 --> 01:01:24,069 final thoughts would just be you. I agree with everything Rachel and Andrea has said. Um, I have 642 01:01:24,070 --> 01:01:30,829 two amazing women on my driver team. Um, so happy Mother's Day to 643 01:01:30,869 --> 01:01:37,709 them. Um, my mom was my absolute hero, and I want to 644 01:01:37,709 --> 01:01:43,029 wish her a happy Mother's Day as well. That's awesome. Happy Mother's Day to your mom. From every 645 01:01:43,030 --> 01:01:49,110 one of us here at Always Pneumatic, Never Static as well. Kelly. And, uh, we we greatly appreciate you 646 01:01:49,110 --> 01:01:54,990 joining us today. And I'm sorry that got a little bit emotional, but that's really that that shows 647 01:01:54,990 --> 01:02:00,629 how much being a mom really means to moms out there. And you illustrated it, Andrea. You 648 01:02:00,629 --> 01:02:05,869 illustrated it. Rachel. You illustrated it perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better trio 649 01:02:05,870 --> 01:02:12,189 to come on here and do this episode with me today. Andrea. Rachel. Kelly. Happy Mother's Day not only 650 01:02:12,190 --> 01:02:17,939 from everybody here at always pneumatic, never static. But from Marcus this one comes personally 651 01:02:17,939 --> 01:02:22,139 out to all three of you. Thank you so much for your time today. Please enjoy the time with your 652 01:02:22,140 --> 01:02:25,779 family this Mother's Day. Okay. Thank you, thank you. Thanks, Marcus. 653 01:02:33,739 --> 01:02:39,899 Big thanks to Andrea, Rachel and Kelly there. What a powerful, emotional, 654 01:02:39,899 --> 01:02:46,859 and just heartwarming episode that we've had for you here today on episode 13 of 655 01:02:46,860 --> 01:02:52,938 Always Pneumatic, Never static. You know, we started this episode talking about a mom, Andrea's mom, who 656 01:02:52,939 --> 01:02:57,859 is helping build something behind the scenes, holding down the house, raising a family, making 657 01:02:57,859 --> 01:03:04,658 sure everything worked even if nobody outside really saw it. And as this conversation went on, 658 01:03:04,740 --> 01:03:10,019 one thing that became pretty clear is that the story never really changed. It just looks a little 659 01:03:10,059 --> 01:03:15,539 bit different now, Whether it's Andrea carrying forward what her parents built, Rachel figuring it 660 01:03:15,539 --> 01:03:20,339 out as a single mom and making it work no matter what. Or Kelly opening up about what it really 661 01:03:20,340 --> 01:03:27,019 means to give so much of yourself to your kids. The common thread is the same moms show up 662 01:03:27,139 --> 01:03:32,138 even when it's hard, even when it's messy, even when they're not sure if they're getting it right. 663 01:03:32,139 --> 01:03:38,860 And maybe the most powerful thing we heard today is that none of them are asking for perfection. 664 01:03:39,180 --> 01:03:45,538 They just want their kids to know they tried their best. And if you really think about it, that 665 01:03:45,539 --> 01:03:51,619 might be the most honest, most human version of motherhood there is. So to every mom out there, 666 01:03:51,619 --> 01:03:57,139 whether you're at home, in the office, behind the wheel, or somewhere in between. Happy Mother's Day 667 01:03:57,139 --> 01:04:03,139 from all of us here at Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Not just me, the guy that you hear from 668 01:04:03,139 --> 01:04:09,299 every day, but all the people behind the scenes like our phenomenal producer Jessica, our amazing 669 01:04:09,299 --> 01:04:16,250 audio editor Mike, our fantastic web guy Tyler and so many more people. Our graphic lady, 670 01:04:16,290 --> 01:04:21,889 Arie, there's so many people that come into this podcast to make it actually happen. And I want all 671 01:04:21,889 --> 01:04:27,969 of you mothers out there at Bulk and Spur to know every single one of us here behind the scenes is 672 01:04:27,969 --> 01:04:34,129 wishing you a very happy Mother's Day. And we thank you so much, not only for coming on and and 673 01:04:34,129 --> 01:04:39,928 and showing how powerful motherhood really is right here on Always Pneumatic, Never Static. We 674 01:04:39,929 --> 01:04:44,769 thank you for the privilege to be able to make these episodes. We could not do them without you. 675 01:04:44,770 --> 01:04:51,648 And as you saw today, I've told you before, I am the Steve Nash of this podcast. I am not the star. 676 01:04:51,649 --> 01:04:58,529 And today we had some Caitlin Clark-level stars in here, uh, doing their thing as moms. And I 677 01:04:58,530 --> 01:05:04,809 think that is so cool. I just can't thank Andrea, Rachel, and Kelly enough. Um, thank you for 678 01:05:04,810 --> 01:05:10,249 everything you carry. Mothers of the world. Thank you for carrying the things that we don't always 679 01:05:10,290 --> 01:05:17,089 see. Thank you for carrying all the things that we do see. And thank you for being our moms. And to 680 01:05:17,129 --> 01:05:23,609 my mom, Ava, who I certainly hope is listening to this one. Happy Mother's Day. Your gift is on the 681 01:05:23,610 --> 01:05:29,488 way if it's not already there, I love you. Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Always 682 01:05:29,489 --> 01:05:34,489 Pneumatic, Never Static. Everyone that tuned in. We appreciate you greatly. If you're not a mom, maybe 683 01:05:34,489 --> 01:05:39,929 you're a dad. I promise you, we'll get to you in June, okay? Stay safe out there. We'll talk to you 684 01:05:39,930 --> 01:05:45,249 next week. 5 a.m. local time for another episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. 685 01:05:47,569 --> 01:05:53,530 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Your number one, and 686 01:05:53,530 --> 01:05:59,449 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 687 01:05:59,450 --> 01:06:04,249 today. Till next time, stay safe, keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.