W
of the
year Meet These
Six Powerhouse
Mothers BY WF STAFF
12 WashingtonFAMILY MAY 2019
hen it comes to
motherhood, there’s
no denying that it’s a tough role.

Moms are the nurturers, leaders,
givers, listeners, providers, role
models, first hand holders,
warm-hug givers and the ones on
whom we can always rely. Moms
are the first to offer a shoulder
to cry on and the first to cheer on
their loved ones during all of life’s
monumental moments.

Moms are not only incredible
pillars of strength within their
families but in their communities
and workplaces as well. There
are not enough ways to truly give
moms the recognition they deserve
for their lifetime of dedication, love
and hard work.

Washington FAMILY is honoring
local mothers with our fourth
annual Moms of the Year issue.

We asked readers to nominate
a special mom deserving of this
recognition. After numerous
entries, all describing incredible
local moms, six powerhouse
mothers were selected to be
honored. These deserving and
remarkable women have unique
stories to tell and great motherly
advice to share. Meet our Moms of
the Year!



Rachel V. Brenke
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Mom to Joshua, 13, Olivia, 9, Caleb, 6, Micah, 5, Evelyn, 4
Nominated by Nathan Brenke
As a mom of five, cancer survivor, multi-business owner and Team
USA athlete, my wife deserves to be Mom of the Year. She also has set
up a non-profit to raise awareness and change for animal rights laws.

She was recently featured on NBC sports and various international
magazines for her skills and efforts. She’s an example to all women to
have something for themselves (self-care) no matter the circumstances.

Occupation: Business consultant and lawyer
Favorite “mom-ism:”
“Figure it out!”
Three fun facts about
you and your family:
We love to geocache, go to Disney and
watch movies.

What advice would you give
to new or expectant moms?
Ignore the judgment and shame. You
do you. You’re the one tucking them in
and carrying them the rest of their lives
— not anyone else.

What goals do you
have for yourself?
Continue to compete with Team USA
and qualify for the World Champion-
ships in triathlon.

How has motherhood changed
your outlook on life?
Priorities become true priorities. I don’t get
so upset about the little things anymore.

Describe a favorite
mom moment.

What’s your superpower?
Managing my time and everyone’s
hectic schedules.

What are three things
you use everyday that you
can’t live without?
My Apple calendar to manage all of
our schedules, a coffee pot to keep me
lively and my smart phone to keep tabs
on everyone!
What’s the best thing you
are listening to right now?
Different crime podcasts that present
evidence and psychological informa-
tion to help me, the listener, solve the
mysteries in my head. This keeps my
brain active.

What is your secret to
balancing life/family/work/
motherhood? “ Ignore the judgment
and shame. You do
you. You’re the one
tucking them in
and carrying them
the rest of their
lives — not
anyone else. ”
[ RACHEL V. BRENKE ]
Fill the rocks first. Always put the
priorities into the schedule first, includ-
ing self-care and each person’s individual
goals (track, soccer, etc). Then, you put
in all your other obligations.

Favorite local spot?
Vivify Burger in downtown Fredericksburg.

My favorite moments are the way they fly
down the stairs and into my arms when
I come home, whether I’ve been gone to
the store, to work or have been gone on
a trip.

MOMS: PROVIDED; ALL OTHER: COURTESY OF GETT Y IMAGES
WashingtonFAMILY.com 13