Super Mom

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Haynie
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – The terms mom, mother, and mommy are all names commonly heard in and outside of a family household. A full-time job as it is, many of the mothers can be seen around base in uniform or business attire working to help accomplish the base’s mission of training world class pilots.

Mother’s tied to the military lifestyle can come across some unique challenges whether active duty or civilian.

“We arrived at Scott Air Force Base and I didn’t know anyone,” said Maggy Ottenwess, 14th Operations Group spouse. “I just had a son who was born with congenital heart disease. You know what happened? My husband’s old squadron and new squadron provided meals for my entire family, every day, for two months, while my son was in the Intensive Care Unit.”

Ottenwess added that she loved the comradery that the military provides. Being a part of the spouses club and working with the community created a second family.

“Being a part of the flying community, we would see pilots and leadership in and out which really allowed me to see how children could thrive in the military,” said Ottenwess. “Sometimes it is hard to hear someone say ‘Oh I could never do that to my child’ so I am grateful to have had relationships with women like me.”

While being a mother poses its own difficulties, being an active duty military member on top of that can bring new challenges as well as tremendous support to face them.

“The most difficult part was finding the balance,” said Staff Sgt. Cierra Arthur, 14th Flying Training Wing religious affairs airman. “Coming back to work was hard because I wanted to spend all my time with my daughter, but I knew I had to work. It never gets easier but you learn to adapt and change. You change as a mother and your baby is constantly growing and changing.”

Arthur said she is lucky for the job she has because at times she is able to bring her daughter into work, giving her the sense of having the best of both worlds.

“I would tell expecting mothers to be patient,” said Arthur. “Remember both of you are new to this lifestyle and neither of you know what you are doing yet.”

The military provides many outlets to help expecting families. The Airmen Family Readiness Center has opportunities to look out for such as Bundles for Babies which provides new and expecting parents with information on finances, labor and delivery, and also infant care. The AFRC donates $50 gift cards to the families for any baby needs they may have .