At certain times in our lives, many of us have gone where we thought we never would. It's that sense of alarm when we say or do something, pulled from the past, that prompts us to look up to the heavens with arms outstretched and begging: "Please don't let me turn into my mother."

But for Mom of the Month Jennie Weinhold, emulating her mother has been the best thing she could have done for herself and for her family. Being like her mother has enabled her to have the best of both worlds in her own role as a mother.

Weinhold is the mother of two boys, 18-year-old college freshman Tyler and Zachary, 15, a high school sophomore.

Her sons are independent now, but when Weinhold looks back at the time when they were babies and toddlers, she is very happy that it was then that she took a cue from her own mother.

Weinhold grew up in nearby West Chester. She is the youngest of six children: three girls and three boys. "The boys had their own big bedroom and the girls had their own big bedroom," she says. Just like the "Brady Bunch."

She describes it as a "nice, chaotic upbringing, with nice routines and everyone having their chores." The family was also very musical and owned a music store.

In 1972, when Weinhold was 9 years old, her mother started feeling that tug that so many of today's mothers feel: the urge to go back to work and to make some extra money to help with the family's expenses.

But of course, the question then and now is, how to do that and still be there for the children.

Weinhold's mother was able to find her answer by becoming an independent distributor of Shaklee products -- all-natural vitamins, supplements and cleaning products.

Because Shaklee is sold through distributorships, Weinhold's mother was able to work at home and adjust her schedule completely around her family's. She became quite successful.

Fifteen years ago Weinhold was in a similar situation. She was working full time as a human resources coordinator and wanted to spend more time with her young sons at home. Like her mother, she wanted a way to make extra income and still be with her kids. Just like her mother, Weinhold became a distributor.

Eventually Weinhold took over her mother's business, and today she is an executive coordinator for the company.

And again, like her mother, Weinhold is able to schedule her work around her family. This was key when the boys were young. A soccer game? A field trip? PTA meeting? Weinhold was there. And while the boys were in school, she worked.

Weinhold's priority was simple: Be there.

"When my kids were younger, I was always very involved in what they were doing. The most important thing about my earlier years as a mother is that I felt that I was able to be there for them when they needed me. I was up with them every day to make them breakfast and see them off to school, and I was able to be home when they came home from school, to help them with homework and other things."

And Weinhold says it was her being there in the past that makes all the difference with her teenagers today. She says, "I have a great core relationship with my sons. They are practically all grown up. I seem to learn more from them than they do from me! They have become my friends, in addition to parenting them. It's been such a rewarding experience."

Weinhold says, "It all stems back to the time when the boys were young."

Now, Weinhold says, she is at the "tail end of parenting."

But, she adds, "I feel really gratified now. I have built great memories and I look forward to one day having grandchildren!"

More about our March mom

• Weinhold has been married to Chris for 23 years. They met at Shippensburg University.

• Son Tyler stays in touch with his mother from college through frequent e-mails.

• Her hobbies include biking, reading and walking. She enjoys cooking with her husband.

• Loves travelling throughout the United States. Some of the places she's visited: Chicago, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., New Orleans.

• Professional affiliations include: co-vice president of membership for the Lancaster Area Express Network of the American Business Women's Association and member of the Lancaster and Ephrata chambers of commerce.

• Plays the violin, saxophone and piano.

• The Weinholds have two cats, Nittany and Cinnamon.

• One of Weinhold's favorite things to do is mentor younger women and mothers. She loves talking to them about their options. "It's important to me as a mother to have a little bit of an outlet, to get out and challenge myself intellectually. "

• Her website is www.jkweinhold.myshaklee.com

By Maureen Leader, Special Features writer