RRP: Being a County Commissioner and owning a landscaping company, how do you balance work and motherhood?
RW: I do not manage or balance or juggle being a mother. I do not squeeze motherhood in amongst a list of things to do. My family is my priority, my responsibility, and my honor. I am in a season now that I have resigned from all of the boards I served on to keep my family a priority. That means I had to choose between doing something good (board service) and doing something great (raising teenagers).
RRP: What local organization are you passionate about that also aligns with you being a mom to a 14-year-old daughter?
RW: I have the most incredible daughter! She is physically and mentally tough, funny, and a beautiful extrovert. My desire for Margaret is for her to maintain balance spiritually, emotionally, and physically. In third grade, I signed her up for Girls on the Run (GOTR), a national program with a chapter here in Montgomery. I saw Margaret and the other participants grow physically and emotionally during their three years in this program. I am one of the biggest Girls on the Run supporters because I saw the impact firsthand, and I want that for every girl.
RRP: How do you foster a positive body image for your children?
RW: During the decade of my 40s, my mother died, my father died, I fought stage III breast cancer, and I lost my income during the pandemic. I dealt with my tremendous pain and grief by succumbing to addiction – food addiction. I didn’t want to set a poor example for my children. I spoke to my children about good choices and fueling my body for maximum energy and discipline. They watched my physical and emotional weight fade away, my energy return and my confidence grow.
RRP: What has been the greatest surprise in your motherhood journey?
RW: When my kids were young, simple errands like grocery shopping were next to impossible. First, once you stick two babies in a buggy, there’s hardly room for groceries. Second, I don’t know who designed the big race car buggies, but those things are hard to push. I remember being in Publix, and both babies were crying and pitching a fit. After several futile attempts at calming them down, I abandoned my half-full racecar buggy, carried the babies back to the car with tears in my eyes, and drove home. Whew, those were tough years.
RRP: How do you prioritize your own needs while being a mother?
RW: Being a public official involved in the community, I am around people all day and love it, but it drains my energy. To recharge, I must have alone time. When my kids were young – and I was so tired and worn out all the time – I would occasionally get a hotel room at the Hampton Inn in downtown Montgomery and grab some take-out food, watch TV, sleep in, and relax all by myself! My husband always supports me in recharging and taking care of myself.
RRP: What was the most difficult challenge you faced as a mother, and how did you overcome that challenge?
RW: In 2015 I had to explain to my young children that I had cancer and went bald. My younger children did not comprehend how sick I was. The day I picked them up from school, and I was bald, it was a difficult day. I will never forget the look in my seven-year-old son’s eyes. It was a mix of shock, hurt, and confusion. It crushed me. Enduring a year of chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries with four children ages six to sixteen was brutal. I would take them to school each morning, and some days I would go home and sleep all day, then go back and pick them up, do homework, and hang out with them. My goal was normality, despite how I felt. When they look back at that year, their memories revolve around me wearing crazy wigs and the same pajamas too much. And they remember our family had great food in the house, thanks to my amazing friends.
RRP: Raising your four children, what’s the most important lesson you have learned as a mother?
RW: Be an example to them of love, respect, and wisdom. Let them stumble. Let them explore and make their own decisions even when they aren’t the decisions you want them to make. Above all, show them your love and support.
Ronda Walker was born in Ozark, AL, and grew up in Montgomery. She’s married to Jason Walker and they have four children: Hugh (24), Grant (22), Eli (15), and Margaret (14).
