How many times have you been tempted to tell your kids, "Just do as I say, not as I do?" We tell our kids to eat healthy foods, be kind and considerate, have respect... work hard, set goals, be organized. We know what is right, but sometimes even we ourselves fall short of our own advice.

Meet Sharon Cargill, LancMoms.com's Mom of the Month. She not only talks that talk but walks that walk. 

Cargill, 43, is a divorced mom of four children: Hannah, 19; Dan, 17; Ruthie, 15 and Esther, 13. Ruthie nominated her mom to be Mom Of the Month.

Cargill is a busy mom. She works full time outside the home and is also quite active in her church. All of her children have outside activities.

Cargill teaches Family and Consumer Science at the York County School of Technology High School. She also tutors students after school in math and science. 

Family and Consumer Science is a high school course for both boys and girls. Cargill said she "always enjoyed" home economics while she was in school.

But what Cargill teaches these days is definitely not your mother's Home EC class. Cargill covers topics such as: How to Manage a Family, Childcare, Food Science, Child Development, Consumer Science, Family Relationships and Professional Job Development.

Cargill uses examples and ideas from her own family when she teaches her class. Things such as time management, chore lists, weekly menus, tips on grocery shopping.

A couple of things Cargill swears by her are her day planner and her bread machine. But those are the day-to-day helpful hints that help keep her household on track. Cargill also teaches her students about things that affect the big scheme of things. Things like values, caring, respect, sibling roles and peer pressure. 

"Love one another. It's the foundation of all relationships," says Cargill. "With four teenagers with busy schedules it helps to keep my focus on the bigger picture."

She also reminds her students how important their values are. Their values are "their core, their ability to act with caring and respect. That's the only thing that can never be taken away," she says.

One thing the Cargill family does to encourage this is their Thursday night family meeting. Sometimes it's just five or 10 minutes long but it is a time for the family to discuss any issues they may have.

Cargill believes and teaches that goals and routines are very important. But at the same time, you have to be flexible. "Goals are there to serve YOU. Not the other way around," she says.

However, Cargill's routines are not all about work. In her household there are some fun routines as well. Every Saturday morning Cargill takes one of her children horseback riding. It's a special one on one time she devotes to each of her children every weekend.  Meanwhile, at home, the rest of the children are enjoying freshly baked cinnamon rolls that Cargill has prepared.

Cargill says that they are active together as a family. They have run 5K races together and especially enjoy Lancaster's Race against Racism. They often go biking together at the Mount Gretna Rail Trail and enjoy picnics. Cargill says her children "really like their family time."
Raising three teenagers, working full time, tutoring, volunteering, managing a household - baking cinnamon rolls - When and how does Cargill herself relax?

She gets up early to enjoy her favorite time of day: the sunrise. "I love the early morning, she said, "The quiet. It's so hopeful."
 
Mom Details
Cargill is a graduate of Wheaton College.
 
Cargill spent 16 years as a stay at home mom but worked as a substitute teacher during those years.  "I was always involved," she said.
 
Cargill said while growing up she "always enjoyed" Home Economics.
 
Cargill was born in Florida and moved to Pennsylvania when she was 2 years old.
 
For fun Cargill enjoys horseback riding, bicycling and running.
 
The Cargills own two horses at Cedar Fox Farms in New Holland. Their names are Peppy and Princess.
 
The Cargills' favorite family meal is a salmon dish that Cargill came up with. "It has fresh dill that I grow and lemon. It's served with rice."
 
Cargill's favorite restaurant is the Front Porch Tea Room in Hallam. "I enjoy going there with my mom and my two girls."
 
The Cargills have a cat named Smoky Boots.
 
Cargill used to teach horseback riding.
 
IF the Cargills have fast food it would probably be a pizza or something from Subway.
 
Cargill likes to read the Bible. "It's a good source of wisdom that you can apply to your every day life."

Submitted by Maureen Leader, Special Features Writer