honored in - For Women First Magazine - May 18 1992
Diane Christiansen (far right) and husband Clay gather their children
around them for a sing-along. The children are, from eldest to youngest
Clay Jr., his wife Kotharina, EIizabeth, Laura, Michelle, Carolee,
William, John, Rowland, Elise, Maren, David and Krishna.
Mothers today must
fill many roles. And times can be tough. The traditional mom with a houseful
of happy kids, devoted solely to her family, is fast becoming a memory.
Most ‘90s moms work outside the home to help make ends meet. And often
they’re the head of the household. Whatever the situation, moms have to
contend with unique problems—drugs, sexual disease, crime, a breakdown
of authority—that threaten their children. But they cope—and conquer. The
vast majority of American moms still give their children love, comfort
and security, as only mothers can.
When there's no place like
home
| “When visitors come over, they
can be pretty overwhelmed by the noise,” says Diane Chris- tiansen, a fortysomething moth- er of 12. “But I don’t even notice it. To me, it’s the sound of hap- piness.” Eleven of her children, ranging front three to 21, live at home in Bountiful, Utah. Her 22-year-old son is married and lives nearby. “I love children of every age,” she says. "All I ever wanted was a big family.” Soon, she’ll have one more sourse of joy: She and |
her husband, Clay,
an organist
for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, are expecting another child in June. The family loves to play music and sing together. They often gather ‘round the piano for a sing-along. “My family and my hobbies are enough for me,” says Diane, who never planned to go to col- lege or pursue a career. “When one of your children comes up to you and says, ‘Mom, I love you,’ that’s total happiness.” |