Rating:

5.0 (1 vote)

We are excited for you to meet our new Mom on the Move, Anna Traenkle. She runs a business with her husband and is a mother to three children. We're happy to "introduce" her to you!

Tell us about your family: I have a wonderful husband who is also my business partner and three amazing children. Our oldest just turned 5, and we have 3 ½ year old twins. We also have two Malamute puppies that just turned a year old, two cats, and fish. It is truly wonderful to have three kids so close in age and all experiencing preschool at the same time. They are each coming into their own personalities and learning to be independent from one another, but at the same time developing a strong bond together.

Tell us about your business: Together my husband and I own Century Chem-Dry and Century Home Services, and we are all about creating and maintaining healthy homes. Century Chem-Dry is a carpet cleaning business, and we also clean upholstery, tile and grout, area rugs, and we do emergency water damage. We use the process of carbonation and our secret is in the effervescent bubbles. The natural carbonation lifts the dirt to the surface where it can then be whisked away, so your carpets stay cleaner longer. We use 80% less water than steam cleaners, so your carpets dry in just 1-2 hours, and they are much healthier. Century Home Services is an air duct cleaning business. We are proud to own state of the art equipment from Rotobrush to clean your vents all the way down to your furnace. We also have video equipment available, so you can see what a duct in your home looks like before and after the cleaning. Cleaning your carpets and your air ducts will greatly improve the health of your home, and it will also help with allergies and asthma.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom: Watching the glow in my children's eyes when they learn something new or discover something for themselves, and the feeling in my heart when they give me a hug.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom on the move? I am fortunate to have a great deal of family help, so I am able to do the work I love while all the time knowing that my kids are in the best care possible. We are dedicated to creating healthy homes for families and educating people about what harmful allergens might be in their homes that they didn't even know existed. We are also proudly partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and we donate a portion of every job to them to help provide women across America with educational programs and free mammograms. We are excited to have made a substantial donation to the NBCF since our partnership began in July.

What is your biggest challenge being a mom? It was a big decision to go back to work after being a stay at home Mom for 4 ½ years. I miss my children tremendously during the day, but I also knew that I was ready to focus on work again and to let my children have some independence from me which is turning out to be a wonderful thing for all of us, but I still miss them and am always looking for ways to spend more time with them.

What are some of your mom shortcuts or tips you could share with us? Pack everything the night before, cook huge portions and freeze as much as possible, make helping fun - my kids love to help around the house.

What is your favorite book for kids or teens? The Lovables in the Kingdom of Self-Esteem by Diane Loomans - teaches kids valuable life lessons, to love themselves, and to appreciate their individuality.

What is your favorite adult book? It has been a long time since I have had the time to read a fiction book (which I used to do all the time), but one of my all time favorite books would have to be Their Eyes Were Watching God. Also, in relation to children Love and Logic has really helped me to be a better mother.