Meet Candace McCowan, our April Everyday Mom

Candace McCowan is an “everyday mom.” But she’s far from ordinary. This stay-at-home mom of three talks with us about chores, hobbies and unconditional love.

Tell us about your childhood. I grew up in Roseboro with three sisters and two brothers. I live in Fayetteville now.

How old are your kids? Hunter is 8, Cassie is 3 and Aubry is 1.

What are your favorite activities with your kids? Any time spent outside is the most fun! Drawing on the sidewalk or racing around the cul-de-sac. It is a lot of fun for all of us.

What are your least favorite “mom chores”? Dishes! The never-ending story!

What kid-free activity do you enjoy in your free time? What little kid-free time I get, I shop. Even window shopping is fun when you can do it quietly!

Tell us about your hobbies. I love music and cooking — two hobbies I have passed on to all of my girls.

Do you volunteer? I help with school and day-care fund-raisers or class projects. I love volunteering. My husband is in the military and he gladly volunteers me whenever someone is in need of assistance.

What advice do you have for new moms? Try not to plan so much for you and your children that you overextend yourself. If you are so busy worrying about where you have to be and when, you will miss out on so much. The important part is to enjoy and cherish the time you do spend with your kids!

Do you have a time-saving tip to share with other moms? Plan your meals at once for every day of the week. This way you can precook anything that can be precooked and when you go to the grocery store you are there solely for the items you need. Plus, your pantry and refrigerator will be less cluttered with food you are not cooking for the week! This made a difference in my life, especially when I was a working mother.

What’s your favorite 30-minute (or less!) dinner? Chuck Wagon Casserole. I posted the recipe in the “Recipe Swap” group on 910moms.com.

Share a funny and memorable moment with your kids. Three summers ago, we took a trip to Franklin, Tenn., for a week. The girls, mostly Hunter (then 6; Cassie, 1) wanted to take a horseback ride through the mountains. I am extremely scared of horses, but I agreed because if anything could help me overcome this fear, it would be my children having fun. I was on a horse with Hunter; Cassie was on another horse with my husband. Before we even left the stable, I was in tears with fear. Hunter turned around and said, “Mama, just think about something happy and you will be OK. The ride won’t take that long!” That was enough for me to suck it up and go through with it. Well, between my thoughts of our runaway, bucking horse, I turned to see how Cassie was holding up. The poor thing was fast asleep! This is a moment I will never forget.

What is most challenging at your children’s ages? Having Hunter and Cassie get along is my biggest challenge right now. Cassie wants to do everything her big sister does and Hunter wants absolutely no part in that! I know all sisters have that problem, but it’s just not the same when it is your own children!

What is most rewardingat their ages? Aubry’s unconditional love is the best right now.Cassie is the funniest. She has such a big personality. Every day is a comedy show with her. Hunter is soaking up everything around her right now. Children her age are so much smarter than they are given credit for. I am very blessed and rewarded with ALL of my girls.

From your experience, is the label “Terrible Twos” accurate? Terrible ones, twos, threes! Each child of mine has had a different “terrible” age.

What do you look forward to most as your children grow? I am not sure I look forward to them growing. I will be glad when Aubry can talk more. But as a whole, I love where we are now. Just loving, innocent children. I am sure I will look forward to the future when the milestones start coming; but right now, I would rather stop time and keep them as they are!

What cartoon character do you have the most in common with, and why? Ruby off of the show “Max & Ruby.” Ruby is bossy and very girly. She always tries to get Max to be proper and teach him his manners. That is me with the girls all the time.

What three words would your children say best describe you? Silly, loud and sometimes mean. And I would guess that would be word for word from them.

What is a really sillyactivity you enjoy doing with your kids? Dancing in front of the dancecam! We break it down on TV!

Have you ever tasted store-bought baby food? Was it any good? Yes, and yuck! Of course, the fruit tastes good. I cannot have my kids eat something without tasting it myself.

What is your favorite children’s book and why? Any of the Skippyjon Jones books by Judy Schachner. Talk with Candace McCowan and other “everyday moms” on 910moms.com.