Getting to Know You

As promised, we will be profiling each and every wonderful MOPS mom this year. Hopefully it will be a quick and easy way to learn some fun facts about each other. As Lauren mentioned at our first meeting, it is remarkable how much we all have in common. At the same time, there are quirks and qualities that make each of us special (or crazy, depending on the day!), so let's celebrate those too.

For our first profile, let's start at the top, with our fearless leader...

Lauren McCay Byrne

Husband's Name? Robert Byrne

Kids? Robbie (in Heaven), Eveley Joy (2 1/2 years old), Caleb (9 months old)

How long have you lived in Charlottesville (and what brought you here)? My husband and I moved to Charlottesville 5 years ago when he accepted a new job here.

What are three adjectives that describe you? easy going, efficient, loyal

If you had a whole day to yourself, how would you spend it? I would probably tackle some labor-intensive projects at home: paint a room, finish sewing my daughter's quilt, organize my kitchen cabinets (oh, wait, just one day??)

What is your favorite food? Thai Food

Hobbies? Cooking, blogging, learning to sew

What is one quirky thing about you? I think I have an efficiency OCD, and I actually play Tetris in my head all day long. Weird.

What was the best thing you did this summer? Quit my job! After 5 years of being a full-time working attorney stay-at-home mom, I halted my legal career and am loving my new life!

What do you find to be the most rewarding part of being a mom and what is the biggest challenge? The most rewarding part of being a mom is seeing the unbelievable influence I have on my children's development -- spiritually, emotionally, mentally -- and watching the little things that I have purposefully done actually pay off. The biggest challenge is recognizing the amount of selflessness that goes in to raising children. I was not completely prepared for that!

What is your favorite thing about MOPS? I absolutely love being able to meet and get to know so many other moms -- we may look different on the outside, but, in the end, we are all so much alike. We'd all do almost anything for a hot bath alone or a chance to sleep in!