Mother’s Day through the eyes of Madeline Custer

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I wanted to highlight a mom who is driven, real, caring, and powerful. She is Madeline Custer, a mom of two and head trainer at Moves App. She helps women take the guesswork out of their training by creating workout programs for every stage of life, focusing on the progression of a woman’s health and fitness tied into a community connection.

Here's my conversation with her:

1.??? What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?

So many things about motherhood have surprised me, but the one I personally enjoy the most is rediscovering the world through their eyes and watching them connect, learn, and accomplish things as they work toward them. Also, their joy – it’s pure, instant, simple, and infectious.

2.??? What’s the most challenging thing about being a mom?

For me, it’s just the lack of time, the lack of knowing where to put time, or not fully understanding where all the time goes. The days fly by, and often, there is little to show for them (externally) except for innumerable messes. Juggling relationships, work goals, personal hobbies, and baseline self-care while caring for kids is really hard. I don’t even like to use the word balance because it doesn’t exist, but feeling like I’m even remotely organized with time has been difficult for me.

3.??? What would you tell your pre-mom self if you could?

Accept help, find help, and be help to other moms, or anyone, and they will return it. It’s invaluable to feel that support. It’s really ok to rest, but it’s also really fulfilling to feel empowered personally so finding an outlet that provides that and protecting it is not selfish. Explaining that to your partner so they can help you have that time is a really important way that I’ve felt loved the past few years since becoming a mom.

4.??? What is the funniest “momming” story you have?

There have been so many small moments when my husband and I just look at each other and laugh hard. Recently, my two-year-old daughter was helping me give my three-month-old son a bath and asked why he had a "big worm on him," pointing to his anatomy that looked different from hers. I did get a good laugh out of that—how can you not?

5.??? What is the biggest lesson your children have taught you?

Life is such a gift, don’t miss it by viewing it only through a phone. Simple is almost always best. They’re probably tired before you think they are. The hard stages don’t last forever, but that doesn’t minimize how hard they are. I never knew how peaceful it was to watch a baby sleep, but I also never knew how taxing it was to lose so much sleep!