SuperMom | Janell Magenheimer

By Liesel Schmidt

Do the math, and no one would ever be able to pay a stay-at-home mom what they’re worth. Housekeeper, cook, playmate, teacher, mentor, role model, chauffeur, nurse…they do it all, and there isn’t a timecard to punch that puts them on or off the clock. It’s a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week job, and it takes a great deal of commitment and dedication. For Janell Magenheimer, being “just a mom” to her kids is something she takes great pride in, something that she knows deep in her soul is her calling.

Married to her husband, Eddie, for 13 years, Magenheimer has a son and three daughters ranging in ages from 12 to five. “Being a devoted mother to four very busy and active kids has been my biggest blessing in life, and they keep me going every day!” says Magenheimer, whose side hustle is being a representative for Zyia Activewear. “I had a family before I even knew I was ready to start a family. I have not had a set career, but I have had titles and positions that gave me great experience, and that has been something I carried with me into motherhood.”

Being there for her children has been something she feels is important—and the best thing for her family. “I have learned that being at home with my kids is the best thing I can do for all of us. I really admire moms who work a 9 to 5 job or that have jobs where they can’t spend as much time with their kids, because I know that it must be hard for them to have to be away from their children,” says Magenheimer.

While she could easily feel the pressures of society to take on a job outside of the home, Magenheimer is steadfast in the belief that she is serving her children in the best way she can. “I feel that my kids know that their lives are being cared for every step of the way, and they know they have me for anything they need,” she says. “And it really fulfills my life as a mother to know that I can provide everything they need. My mother was a dedicated stay-at-home mother, as well, and she was my biggest inspiration to do the same for my kids.”

With four kids, Magenheimer certainly has her hands full, but she’s incredibly proud of her big, energetic family. “I am very proud that I had four children!” says the 37 year-old with a laugh. “I came from a large family—I was the youngest of eight. So I knew I would be able to handle a big family. Did I actually think I’d have four kids, though? No! My husband always wanted to have a large family of six kids. He was an only child, so I think he always dreamed of a big family. It seemed as though the more kids we had, the more we started to feel like life was becoming more complete.”

As her children get older, Magenheimer hopes they take the best of what she teaches them and remembers, above all, her love for them. “I want my children to always know that I am here for them and that I will always love them, regardless of where life takes them,” she says. “I couldn’t imagine that I could let my kids go too far from me, but I have to let them live their dreams. I want them to know that my time spent being their mother was the best time spent in my life. These years have been flying by, so I really try to be a part of everything they do.”

Naturally, family time is incredibly important, and the Magenheimers have some very special traditions. “Dinner together at the table is very important to us, and that is the time we get to have an uninterrupted conversation about everyone’s day,” she says. “Sometimes a dinner together every night is not possible, so I make a point to set time aside to talk with my kids. I like them to know they can come talk to me about anything. We also spend a lot of time on the water during the warmer months. We fish, and I’ve taught them how to ski and wake board. During the school year, we are very busy with football, cheer, soccer, and tennis; so we traditionally spend all our time going to everyone’s games together. It’s very important to me that my kids support one another and go to the games. They know their family is there supporting them.”

As much as she teaches her children, Magenheimer has also learned a great deal from her children. “I have learned to live life to the fullest,” she says. “They keep me motivated to be a better version of myself every single day. I try to be the best mom I can be, because of the unconditional love they’ve blessed me with.” 

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