By Terri Brunck
Heather Gudger says there’s nothing special about her.
“I’m like any other mom,” she said. “I cook, clean and take care of my family. There’s nothing special about me.”
But keeping up with two active boys and an equally active husband keep Gudger’s days full.
Gudger’s husband, Garlan, is a member of the Cullman City Council and owns Southern Accents.
“I worked with Garlan for a while in the store,” she said. “But I decided I wanted to stay at home with the boys.”
Garlan Gudger III, or Tripp, is 5. Harrison Pierce is 2. “The boys are named after each of our grandfathers,” Gudger said. “The third child’s name is fair game.”
In the mornings, Gudger and the boys get Garlan off to work. “He has a very easy commute,” Heather laughed. “Down the back stairs.”
Then she works on getting the boys ready for preschool. Tripp attends Sonshine preschool five days a week. Pierce goes to Mom’s Day Out three days a week, both at the United Methodist Church. It takes Gudger just minutes to get the boys to school, located across the street from their downtown loft.
“We walk to and from school, but every once and a while I do the drive-through,” she said. “I feel silly getting in the car for less than a block, but Tripp really likes it.”
After school begins, Gudger heads back home to clean, do laundry and other chores.
“I just take care of the house and keep us going on a day to day basis,” she said.
After school, Gudger gets the boys home for snacks and a change of clothes.
“Then we start the afternoon activities,” she said.
Tripp plays basketball, t-ball and soccer. Tripp also wants to take karate.
“I’m not so sure how that’s going to work,” Gudger said. “But there’s always something going on.”
Gudger said she’s afraid Pierce gets left out of the sporting activities, but reminds herself he’ll have his turn when he gets older.
“Pierce thinks he’s just as old as Tripp,” she said. “But he watches from the sidelines for now and does his own thing.”
On Tuesday nights, they eat at Chick-fil-A when children eat free. Friday night is family night.
“We rotate Friday nights,” Gudger said. “One Friday will family night where we hang out and play games. The next Friday we have date night.”
Gudger doesn’t allow cell phones on during dinner.
“I’m pretty strict about those things,” Gudger said of possible interruptions to family time.
After dinner, it’s baths and bedtime for the boys.
“Then it starts all over the next day,” she said.
Once a month, both Gudger and her husband have a girls’ and guys’ night out.
Gudger’s group of friends includes ladies of all ages with children in various stages.
“I talk kid talk all day,” she said. “Every once in a while, I need adult conversation. And it’s nice to have that group of friends in different stages. Those ones whose children have already passed a stage can give you advice.”
Gudger enjoys being a stay at home mom.
“My mom was at home when I was younger,” she said. “I have those memories of my mom, and I want my kids to have those memories too. I want to enjoy this time when they’re little. When they get older and don’t want me around, then I’ll focus on doing something else.”
Gudger, who is from Huntsville, graduated from Huntsville High School. She met Garlan by accident while she was in college.
“My mom was buying a door,” she said. “I met Garlan in the store. When the door was ready two weeks later, he asked if he could take me out on a date. We’ve been together ever since.”
After marrying and moving to Cullman, Gudger’s family soon followed. Her parents moved to Cullman first, and her grandparents soon followed.
“We are very fortunate to have our families close by,” she said. “And we are a fortunate all our families get along. The grandparents all fight over the kids.”
In the little bit of spare time Gudger has, she has picked up a few classes to finish her degree.
“I want to get a degree in behavioral science,” she said. “I’d like to do social work. But I’m taking my time with it. I know I don’t want to do anything until the boys are both in school, and we’re waiting on the possibility of baby number three.”
Although she’s taking it slow, Gudger already appreciates school more the second time around.
“I want to study and do well,” she said. “I think you’re more interested in learning when you go back to school. You know which direction you’re going.”
In the meantime, Gudger will continue to take care of her family.
