Working Mom Spotlight: Melissa Vera

Name: Melissa Vera

Occupation: Blogger, teacher, mom, podcaster and most importantly a daughter of God

Number of kids: 3 but 2 bonus kids  

Favorite candy bar: Snickers

Tell us about your family, and what’s your childcare solution?

 I have three beautiful daughters with my husband who is a native of Mexico. My girls are pretty much young adults and are basically out of the house. The oldest is 25 and married to her high school sweetheart. They both attend graduate school across the country in California. I miss them so much! The middle daughter is in her senior year of college in Greensboro studying interior architecture. My baby girl just turned 18 and graduated from high school this past spring. She isn’t sure of her life’s path, but she is an incredible artist - which is okay because I have gone from being an elementary school teacher to a blogger and have reinvented myself so many times. I also have two bonus sons. My son-in-law Lex, who officially became part of the family when he married our oldest (we already considered him family) and Paul, who was my middle daughter’s boyfriend in eighth grade. Even after they broke up, he stuck around and is currently serving as a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corp. 

Where do you work, and what is a typical workday like for you? 

I work in my blog cabin (a pretty official she shed) writing content for my blog, Adventures of Frugal Mom. I also interview people for my podcast and Facebook live show, “Chats from the Blog Cabin.” I recently started teaching blogging classes which combines my two loves: blogging and teaching. 

Share some of your goals – personal or professional. 

I want to be the person that lets others know that they are allowed to talk about what they are feeling. I was raised to not express my emotions, and I vowed that I would have a relationship with my girls that I didn’t have with my mom. So far, I have succeeded. My girls aren’t afraid to have those hard conversations with me that I would have been afraid to have with my mom. 

As for my professional goals, I have a few up my sleeve. I’ve interviewed several reality TV stars and still have a housewife on my list that I want to interview, but I also want to spotlight the ordinary everyday people and their struggles in life. 

What motivates you to work? 

First, I love what I do. Being a creative type, I love when something sparks that creativity. Conversations online and offline sometimes spark that as well. And of course, money for sure is a major motivation.  I had the chance to chat with my three girls on “Chats from the Blog Cabin” and someone asked them a question about what they learned from me. They said perseverance. Starting something from nothing and hanging in there when I thought it wouldn’t go anywhere. 

How do you like to relax? 

Walking, reading a book and spending time with the fur babies. Allie, a menagerie, is my spoiled rotten Shih Tzu who is my co-worker on the blog. Gigi is a bulldog mix we recently adopted. She was abused and has a lot of trauma that we are still working to overcome. We have four adopted kitties - Markie, Jinxy and Tyger – who are all related. We also have a stray who has claimed me as his own. His name is Travieso - which is Spanish for mischievous. 

What is your favorite part of motherhood? 

My girls. I look at them and wonder what I did to get so lucky to be the momma to these three girls. They are all so unique in their own way. 

What does Restored mean to you? How has it impacted you personally? 

Restored is a safe place for me when I can’t talk to others about what is going on in my life. I was first introduced to Restored when Molly Stillman spoke in 2018. Even though I am not local, I still feel the love and compassion of attending events when I can. I have met some pretty amazing women through Restored. 
What is one of your favorite Restored events to date? Why is it your favorite? 

I have to say the online Bible studies. I am not local to where Restored operates physically. I live about an hour away. So, I can’t always attend in-person events. But I love the online Bible studies and how each person brings their own understanding to what we study in each meeting. There are so many “aha” moments there for me. 

Can you share how you overcome challenges related to the “mom chaos” that settles in when you feel pulled in 100 directions? 

Honestly, I wish I could say that there are graceful moments, but there are times where I lose my cool. However, I have learned that I have to give myself grace. I think that sometimes it is okay to retreat, go out to dinner with a friend or take a walk by myself. I have learned I am a better momma when I take care of myself first. 

Besides your faith and family, what are you passionate about? 

 I will say I am passionate about using the word mother. There is just a formalness in that word that I don’t like. Just a little quirk about me. But I am passionate about encouraging and helping others. I will be your biggest cheerleader if you are around me.