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Mom and Mel: one and the same

By Melanie Zimmermann | Hickory Daily Record

Published: December 3, 2008

At home, I am known as "Mom." At work, I am known as "Mel." Both names have an endearing quality to them, but can be used to the point of exhaustion.

I can always expect when I am summoned by either name that someone needs something.

"Mom, I need clean pants and I can't find my shoes."

"Mel, I need a marketing concept and I can't find my phone."

"Mom, can you help me finish my homework?"

"Mel, can you help me post a story with a snippet and a video link?"

I am beginning to see a pattern. I have blurred the line between my home family and my work family.

I know it's my fault. I try to be all things to all people. I know that I can't be, but I am a mom. It's the innate instinct to make sure everyone is taken care of and has everything he or she needs. Moms everywhere know exactly what I am saying.

I even claim ownership - my children, my husband, my newsroom, my photographers, my interactive team. I know I don't own them, but I have to take care of them.

I worry about them. Does my daughter have her homework? Does Sharon have her spec ads? Does Sarah have all her information for her story? Did my husband get his lunch? Who has what to do today?

There are some perks to having my work family. I get lots of chocolate as tokens of appreciation and I can send them home to their real families at the end of the day after spoiling them rotten.

Hmm, I wonder how I can work chocolate into my plan at home?

Are you a natural nurturer or do you need to be nurtured? I want to know.

E-mail me at mzimmerman@hickoryrecord.com.