Being the parent of a school age children can make for a busy schedule at times. This can depend on how many extracurricular activities they are involved in. Erin Adams is the mother of three and she says that, while you might not be able to be at every single event, you just have to do the best that you can.
“Having three kids close in age often means trying to be in more than one place at one time to see games or get them where they need to be,” she said. “It’s tough to miss big moments, but fortunately I haven’t had to do that often. The other challenge would be simply having enough food in the house at all times for three teenagers.”
Adam has an adult son, Will. Her son Parker is a senior at Clinton High School, where he plays basketball and runs track. He will be going to West Texas A&M next season to compete as a multi-event athlete for their track team next year. Ryder is a sophomore and plays basketball, while Leah is a seventh grader that competes in golf and volleyball. All of the kids also participate in vocal music.
Erin is the Senior Director of Development and Engagement for the Southern Oklahoma State University Office of Institutional Advancement.
“This means a large part of my job involves overseeing events and activities that help raise money for scholarships. Our office also houses the SWOSU Athletic Association and Alumni Association,” she said.
Helping her kids be the best person they can be is important to Erin and her husband, Luke. They work to make sure that their kids know how to prioritize things correctly.
“Refocusing a lot on priorities is vital,” she said. “Schoolwork and grades always comes above sports and other extracurriculars. Commitment to the team is always important whether there are certain occasions where family comes first and it’s important for our kids to know that. Luke and I expect a high work ethic out of our kiddos. I often say, ‘we give a lot to you so we expect a lot in return’.”
