Jyl Matters.

MomItForward.com

About Jyl

She is drive, determination and discipline personified.

She is motivated to make a difference in the world - any way she can.

It is this calm but focused spirit that drove Carissa Rogers to nominate Jyl Pattee as a Mom Who Matters.

“I can tell you first hand that she truly cares about people and not in that fake kind of way,” Carissa explained in her nomination. ” And Carissa should know - she and Jyl have partnered on a one-of-a-kind website and social media driven community - MomItForward.

Their goal is “to change the world one mom at a time by focusing on three pillars: me, mom, and my world.” Carissa and Jyl believe changing the world starts with you.  They contend your ability to impact the world is magnified by your desire to care for yourself.

But where does this passion to ‘change the world’ come from? “My parents instilled in me a love of serving and a sense….almost a duty…of being actively involved and doing my part, ” Jyl explains. Calling her mom the ‘rock’ of her family, Jyl credits her love, her commitment to her family and her ability to keep her chin up to the woman who raised her.

The lesson in ‘keeping her chin up’ has been especially handy.

Diagnosed with Epilepsy at age 14, Jyl spent years denying the disease.  It wasn’t until a very public seizure at the age of 23 forced her to come to terms with the condition. At that time,  she was able to truly embrace the notion that nothing could hold her back.  During that seizure, Jyl fell and broke her jaw in 3 places.  A mere three months later, a fall fractured her skull and left her with an epidural hematoma.  That hematoma could have killed her, but fast acting EMTs recognized the problem and likely saved her life.

Jyl’s epilepsy is completely controlled by medication, so she says she is not forced to deal with the day-to-day of the condition as many patients are.

Join us later today at 12pm on MomFaves - Why Moms Matter Blog Talk Radio to hear more about Jyl and what inspires her to be a mom making a difference.

Posted by Danielle Smith from ExtraordinaryMommy.com

The Why Moms Matter Project

The WhyMomsMatter Project was created by the founders of MomFaves to celebrate and honor the significance and beauty of motherhood. Moms are nominated by their loved ones to receive the “Why Moms Matter Award” by clicking “Nominate” at the top left of WhyMomsMatter.com. If you would like to nominate someone for the WhyMomsMatter project, we would love to hear from you!

Download the Why Moms Matter E-book - full of stories and pictures of moms nominated by their loved ones for the positive impact they are making in the world.

She is a mother of 4. She home schools. She runs her own website. She co-hosts the Blog Talk Radio Show - Chicks Who Chat. And according to her co-host, Jen Hinton (and the friend who nominated her), Sugar Jones is a true blessing as a friend, blogger and mother.

Sugar Jones matters because she puts her family first - she chooses to home school because she thinks it is the best option for her children. She maters because she balances home and work while acknowledging that it is hard, and because she considers the best thing about parenting to be, “reliving your childhood through the eyes of your children - everything is new and amazing again”. She manages to put herself in her kids shoes - and EXPERIENCE.

There are 10 years between Sugar’s oldest daughters, Jasmine and Lauren and her two younger children - Hannah and Ryan. That time has given Sugar a chance to evolve as a parent, “I’m not parenting from a place of fear anymore. I’m trusting myself more and listening to others less. I never even pretend to have this parenting thing down. I love being the mom that says this is a tough job that isn’t always fun. I think it gives moms permission to do the same”.

It is, in part, that drive to ‘give’ that prompted Jen to nominate Sugar, calling her ‘REAL’ and a ‘true blessing’. Jen also points out Sugar’s willingness to promote any cause or business she believes in.

Join us on Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio to learn more about Sugar, what motivates her as a Mom and what drives her to give so much of herself. The show airs today at 12:30PDT/2:30CDT.

As always - if you know a mom who Matters - nominate her!

UPDATE:

Here is our interview with Kathy Ireland for those who happened to miss it

We have received some amazing nominations for Why Moms Matter.

We asked you to send us stories about the moms you know who are living ordinary, extraordinary lives. And you have amazed us. You’ve sent stories that have made us laugh out loud and some that have made us cry.

We’ve highlighted moms who have battled cancer, moms who have started their own businesses, moms who have inspired beautiful and amazing charity projects, moms who have stood by the bedsides of their children as they struggled with heart problems and cancer, and just last week we highlighted both a mom who had lost her sweet child and the many moms who surrounded that mom with love and support.

Most of the moms we have spoken to are well known among their friends, their home communities and some, quite popular in the ‘blog world’.

This week is a bit different.

You already know our highlighted mom. Well, not personally, but she has such a kind persona, you may feel like you do. But because she is a ‘celebrity’, you may wonder if she fits the ‘ordinary‘ portion of our ‘ordinary moms’ living extraordinary lives.

She does. But, to learn how, you will have to join us live today, Friday, for a special hour long show on Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio at 12:30PDT/2:30CDT.

Kathy Ireland began her amazing career when she was only 17. She was first known as a model - one who spent 13 consecutive years on the pages of the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

She is now known for many more accomplishments - She is the CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, an author of both children’s books and the newly released, Real Solutions for Busy Moms., a volunteer for many organizations and an active member of her church . But her proudest accomplishment is being a mom - and this is what makes her just like so many of us - ordinary.

Today, meet and understand Kathy Ireland as a Mom Who Matters. She does not yet know who nominated her - join us for the surprise introduction.

We will be talking to Kathy about balancing it all and her advice for moms. She has done the research - she is a mom and she has some suggestions you want to hear!

Do you have a question you would like us to ask Kathy? Please share it with us. We will do our best to cover everything you want to know. If we use your question, we will mention that YOU on the show!

As always, if you want to nominate a future Mom Who Matters, we would love to hear from you!

Kathy Ireland

KathyIreland.com

How Do You Know Kathy?

You may know her for her face and her body.  Her modeling career began when she was only 17.  She was featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 13 consecutive years.

Hopefully you know her for her business savvy. She is the CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide.  Her global brand and product design line includes everything from furniture to home goods to clothing to fitness videos.

This Friday, meet and understand Kathy Ireland as a mom.

Kathy is a Mom Who Matters

Nominated as a Mom Who Matters, by a close friend, Kathy is described as a mother of 3 who does it all, including, “school pick ups and drop offs, dance classes, guitar lessons, skateboarding, homework, school functions, church and being a Sunday school teacher”.

This is, of course, all on top of being a CEO, a regular volunteer for several organizations and the author of a new book, Real Solutions for Busy Moms.

We will be talking to Kathy about balancing it all and her real solutions for moms. She has done the research - she is a mom and she has some advice!

Have A Question For Kathy?

Do you have a question you would like us to ask Kathy?  Please share it with us by leaving a comment below.  We will do our best to cover everything you want to know. If we use your question, we will mention that YOU wanted to know!

And then join us live on Friday for a special hour long show on Why Moms Matter on Blog Talk Radio at 12:30PDT/2:30CDT.

If you want to nominate a future Mom Who Matters, we would love to hear from you!