Have a baby and there is one piece of universal advice that everyone gets. It doesn't have to do with feeding, discipline or television. It has nothing to do with working outside the home versus being a stay-at-home mom. No, the one thing every new mother hears is, "Enjoy every day. They grow up so quickly."

It's true. Those of us who have grown children remember vividly giving birth to them and wonder where all the time went. The years are gone. They are lost forever. Or are they? For some blessed moms there is a second chance. They get a second chance with GRANDCHILDREN.

Someone who knows this all too well is Mom of the Month, Linda Waters.

Waters is mom to two grown children: Joni, 27, and Travis, 34. When Joni and Travis were growing up, times were tough in the Waters household. Linda Waters worked two jobs to help support the family. She worked at Weis Markets during the day and then would come home at 2:30 p.m. to get the children settled after school. Then there was homework, dinner, and just a little bit of time together before Waters would go out again to clean offices at night. She wouldn't return home until after 10 p.m., after the children were asleep.
Adding to the family's hard times was the stress in the Waters' marriage.

She and her husband, Gary, "just weren't communicating," Waters explained. Though she knew she was losing time with her children, she knew she had to do all she could to keep them all afloat. "I had to keep it together," she remembers. It was a very difficult time for the family. Travis was 15 and Joni was 8.

It was especially difficult on Travis, who was the one who nominated his mother for Mom of the Month. He says, "Let's just say I was not the best child growing up." But thanks in part to Waters' strength and determination, the Waters family managed to pull back together. Waters' husband returned and the entire family was reunited.

Fast forward to now and times are a little easier for the Waters family. Travis and his wife have a four-year-old daughter, Jaelyn, who is the light in Waters' life. "I try to be more of a mom to her than what I was when I was raising my own children," said Waters. "I just love her to death."

Waters watches Jaelyn one day a week and she always has something special planned for the two of them, like going to parks, farm shows or carnivals. Recently the two cuddled together in bed and watched "The Wizard of Oz."

Waters also put loving time and attention into decorating a cute bedroom for Jaelyn for when she sleeps over. Waters currently has a job at WaWa with set daytime hours, allowing her to schedule special outings with her granddaughter. Luckily, daughter Joni also works at WaWa and so mother and daughter are able to spend some time together. "We have a very close bond," said Waters.

Though Waters loves her time now with Jaelyn, she can't help but look back on the time her own children were young and like all of us second guesses herself.

Waters is extremely proud of both of her children and cherishes the relationship she has now with them. Though, at times, she regrets not spending more time with them when they were young and wonders if she did all she could have done.

Waters does not need to worry.  Her answer lies in what her son, Travis, wrote in his nomination: "My mom is great. We went through some challenging times, and she never turned her back on me. My mom is a big inspiration in my life. Whenever I need anything, she is always there to lend a hand, or just listen to what I have to say. Whether it is good or bad, late or early, she listens and respects every decision I have made."

Travis added, "She is not only my mother, she is my very best friend!"
 
Fast Facts about Linda Waters:
  
Waters loves to read cookbooks. "I have oodles of them. Probably 500. They just keep sneaking in there." Waters does like to cook, but not bake. She loves to try Italian recipes.

She and her husband have been married since May of 1972.

Waters says the best thing in any relationship is good communication.

Waters has a cabin in Huntingdon, PA. She loves visiting there to "chill out."

Waters is very patriotic. Her home is decorated with many red, white and blue items.

Waters favorite place to go out to eat is Jimmee's. "I love it!"

Waters' loves holidays and family get-togethers. In recent years she has lost several close family members, and times with her family now are even more precious to her.

Waters admits to being addicted to QVC. And she also loves to shop at JC Penney.

Written by Maureen Leader, Special Features Writer