From the Editor
Fifteen Year Milestone
The Peoria Woman first hit the streets this month in 1990. Fifteen years ago. My life was certainly different then, as I'm sure was yours. With three children at home, I began working part-time for The Peoria Woman. My late husband and I conceived the idea after the successful launch of InterBusiness Issues. "A Monthly Communique for Women in the Heart of Illinois" would be our focus, and the magazine would evolve as our readers and sponsors would direct us.
A vase of roses, a strand of pearls, and fancy script type in pink hues would grace the cover for about a year, as the magazine grew from its original 16 pages. An advisory board of women from diverse backgrounds was asked to help determine the direction: focus on our femininity or our liberation-or both. I was privileged to be mentored by many willing to share their successes and failures.
At the beginning of the 1990s, women were trying out the "do it all" myth. We interviewed successful women at various career stages who, seemingly, had the answers to the question of balance. How did they do it? I've been fascinated, and apparently, our readers have been too.
I've learned a lot these past 15 years but still ask the question: "How does one create balance?" In 1997, I wrote, "I'm experiencing my third transition of adult life. I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, and then for eight years, I worked the flextime schedule and secured day care for my toddler. As the children grew, the hours spent at work also grew. And as the hours at work became longer, they also became more satisfying. But in 1997, with the diagnosis of my husband's leukemia, I suddenly had to assume full responsibility as our family's breadwinner, parent of our three children and manager of CIBP."
In the past eight years, I've been terrified, disappointed, exhausted, anxious, frustrated, satisfied, proud, and happy-but always busy and never bored. I learned to depend on knowledgeable staff and consultants, realizing I couldn't do it all. I keep trying to work smarter-not longer hours-although I've never dreaded going to the office.
I've remarried, seen children graduate from college and get married, and watched them pursue their careers. With this anniversary, I'm adapting to the fourth transition of my adult life-typically characterized as "empty nest." I began preparing myself for this transition months ago. I signed up for golf lessons, booked a couple of trips, and promised myself I'd relax a bit on the weekends and focus more on future plans for the company.
The world has changed in the past 15 years, and so have we. Thank goodness we've accepted the fact that we can't-and don't have to-do it all. We're smart enough to enlist help-with housework, yard work, cooking, and entertaining. All so we can enjoy dates with our friends and spouses and time to "unwind."
The Peoria Woman will continue to recognize the accomplishments of women in our area. For a reminder of the women who've worked and played in central Illinois, go to our Web site at www.peoriamagazines.com and click on "archives." They've all made a difference, and we've helped share that. We'll keep following your lead-thank you to our sponsors and readers!
A vase of roses, a strand of pearls, and fancy script type in pink hues would grace the cover for about a year, as the magazine grew from its original 16 pages. An advisory board of women from diverse backgrounds was asked to help determine the direction: focus on our femininity or our liberation-or both. I was privileged to be mentored by many willing to share their successes and failures.
At the beginning of the 1990s, women were trying out the "do it all" myth. We interviewed successful women at various career stages who, seemingly, had the answers to the question of balance. How did they do it? I've been fascinated, and apparently, our readers have been too.
I've learned a lot these past 15 years but still ask the question: "How does one create balance?" In 1997, I wrote, "I'm experiencing my third transition of adult life. I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, and then for eight years, I worked the flextime schedule and secured day care for my toddler. As the children grew, the hours spent at work also grew. And as the hours at work became longer, they also became more satisfying. But in 1997, with the diagnosis of my husband's leukemia, I suddenly had to assume full responsibility as our family's breadwinner, parent of our three children and manager of CIBP."
In the past eight years, I've been terrified, disappointed, exhausted, anxious, frustrated, satisfied, proud, and happy-but always busy and never bored. I learned to depend on knowledgeable staff and consultants, realizing I couldn't do it all. I keep trying to work smarter-not longer hours-although I've never dreaded going to the office.
I've remarried, seen children graduate from college and get married, and watched them pursue their careers. With this anniversary, I'm adapting to the fourth transition of my adult life-typically characterized as "empty nest." I began preparing myself for this transition months ago. I signed up for golf lessons, booked a couple of trips, and promised myself I'd relax a bit on the weekends and focus more on future plans for the company.
The world has changed in the past 15 years, and so have we. Thank goodness we've accepted the fact that we can't-and don't have to-do it all. We're smart enough to enlist help-with housework, yard work, cooking, and entertaining. All so we can enjoy dates with our friends and spouses and time to "unwind."
The Peoria Woman will continue to recognize the accomplishments of women in our area. For a reminder of the women who've worked and played in central Illinois, go to our Web site at www.peoriamagazines.com and click on "archives." They've all made a difference, and we've helped share that. We'll keep following your lead-thank you to our sponsors and readers!