Personnel Manager, Wal-Mart; Tampa, FL 
Child: Matthew, 6

Why We Love Her
Where others at her son’s school saw a patch of dirt, Theresa saw a playground for kids with special needs. So she raised almost $9,000 for its construction. The single mother to a 6-year-old son who has autism, Theresa doesn’t shy away from a struggle, whether it’s getting the best care for her son, helping families affected by this disease find support or negotiating the needs of managers and hourly employees at Wal-Mart. this month Marks Theresa’s twentieth anniversary with the company, where she started out as a cashier.

Q: What’s your best advice for a new mom returning to work?

A: Find a good support network to help and the guilt will ease as you learn to balance things. For mothers, guilt can be a big issue — “Am I doing enough? Am I everything? Am I everywhere everyone needs me to be?” Time and organization help ease the initial fear and guilt.

Q: What’s your biggest working mom confession?

A: Mine are the times when I needed a break from home or work and looked for the outlet of the other. Both work and motherhood can be stressful, and at times you can feel like you need a break from one or the other. Chances are, however, when you use one to get a release from the other, you will end up feeling guilty. That is especially hard with an autistic child where communication is not always easy. That is where balance is important: If you feel that sense of balance, then you can find peace in your choices.

Q: What does balance mean to you?

A: Being successful and supportive, giving equal weight and value to all aspects of life at home, work and in the community.