Mom to Scott, age 21, Kelsie,
age 20 and Gwyneth, age 17
Potomac Falls, VA
Maureen McCrae
Nominated by Sharon Knipmeyer
When The Loudoun School for the
Gifted needed a full-time mother figure
on payroll, we thought of Maureen
first and begged her to join. We knew
we needed her vibrant personality,
her love of caring for teens and her
willingness to pitch in regardless of
the task. No one was surprised when
she agreed to join us, even though
she has three children of her own,
and owns a competitive gymnastics
studio, G-Force Gymnastics. Maureen
McCrae is the kind of mom who
genuinely loves to be around kids.

What’s the best parenting advice
you’ve ever received?
Model the behavior you
expect to see in children. They
are always watching you.

What advice would you give to
new or expectant mothers?
You ARE going to make some
mistakes as a parent; don’t be
too hard on yourself. Understand
that each child is unique. You
have to figure out what approach
works for each child personally.

When you are reading parenting
advice books, remember that
not all approaches work for
every child. As a young parent
this can be frustrating. Take
a deep breath, step back and try a
different approach, and eventually you
will figure out what works. I would also
advise not to worry too much about
what other moms think about your
parenting style. You have to do what
works for your family.

How has motherhood changed your
outlook on life?
I have learned to delight in
differences and find humor in most
situations. 12 May 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
Who is your role model?
How do you think your children would
describe you?
Crazy (all kids think their parents are
crazy)…but lovable.

Describe a favorite mom moment.

I have spent a lot of time laughing
with my kids. I love having my kids and
my students hanging out and talking
about day-to-day stuff. It is important
to talk to the kids and not talk at them;
there is a difference. When you respect
and trust a kid, they will in turn respect
you and want to keep your trust.

My late mother Margaret Gall; she
was very resourceful. She raised six
kids on her own with very little money,
and she had a great sense of humor —
she had to. And my late mother-in-law
Sue McCrae, who was one of the most
gracious and selfless women I have
ever known. She taught me that I would
only regret the things that I didn’t take
the opportunity to do.

What goals do you have for yourself?
I feel I have found my purpose in life
by helping and mentoring kids. I plan to
continue to make a difference in each
child’s life to help them truly believe in
themselves. What are some of your greatest
accomplishments? Hearing the words from one of my
more difficult students, “Thank you for
not giving up on me!”



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