TwitterMom of the Week: Meet Angeline Duran Piotrowski!

As a recently moved-and-transplanted WAHM, I'm still in the throes of settling into my new life. Each time I check something off my list (setting up my new home office, enrolling the girls in school, finding my nearest Target), I get a little closer to that sometimes-elusive feeling of belonging. I know from experience, though, that it takes time. And patience. And a never-ending dedication to keeping myself open -- to new friendships, experiences and attitudes. On my best days, it's a grand adventure. On my worst, it's exhausting, frustrating, and I'm convinced this'll never feel like home.

That's why I give Angeline Duran Piotrowski, 38, HUGE credit -- our new TwitterMom of the Week has worked hard to carve out a rich, new existence for her family in Traverse City, Michigan, far from her beloved Los Angeles home.

"We left L.A. so that my children may have an opportunity to grow up with the advantages of grandparents nearby, excellent public school options, and a more affluent lifestyle than we may have been able to provide in L.A," says Angeline, a married mom of two boys (ages 5 and 3), who was born and raised in Humboldt County, northern California. "I made the decision that I am certain has been best for the children, but I feel other parents will understand when I confess that my heart is a little broken at having to abandon one of my loves so another may thrive."

Broken heart or not, this former entertainment industry marketing executive-turned-SAHM hasn't wasted a minute feeling sorry for herself (despite missing L.A. "like I would miss my own head"). Instead, she got busy and started connecting with others -- via Twitter as well as her local moms club, where she made friends who "pulled me through emotionally and have become the bedrock of what is now a very enjoyable life."

Angeline also founded two blogsites, The Momstyle News and Mommy Myth Buster. "The Momstyle News is the first and only online newspaper specifically for parents," she says. "No gossip or personal musings on parenthood, just practical news you can use for busy parents."

Mommy Myth Buster, on the other hand, is "the defiant sister of MomstyleNews.com," says Angeline. "It's dedicated to the promotion of critical thinking when faced with lies, myths, exaggerations and marketing aimed at parents. It doesn't promote any [one] parenting method, but rather aims to help all parents accept that most of parenting appears in shades of gray, not all parenting methods are best for everyone, and not everything you hear or see is what it seems to be. The goal is to help parents relax and enjoy parenthood."

Angeline's unique experience of motherhood has meant living in one- and two-bedroom apartments in Hollywood ("complete with crime, traffic, vagrants and a very exciting metropolitan environment," she says), to living in a "free-standing home of our own in a pleasant, conservative, Norman Rockwell-esque Midwestern town, nestled in the woods off of Lake Michigan."

"I feel fortunate to have the breadth of perspective that comes from parenting in two such different environments," she says. "To start, it helps me put safety concerns into perspective. It also helps me remember that my children will need to be exposed to a variety of cultural influences as they grow up -- and traveling outside of our new small town will need to be a regular part of the enrichment of our lives."

As someone with "a LOT of energy" and an admittedly compulsive communicator, Angeline says that she is also a very civic-minded person. "I try to apply my energy to projects that I feel will be of benefit to others," she says. "Now, through my company, Momstyle News, LLC, I create and manage organizations and events that bring moms together for fun and support."

Angeline's husband records sound for feature films (including "Star Trek" and "Angels & Demons"). ("Yeah, he's the guy who holds the microphone over the actor's heads," says Angeline.) The two met while filming on location in South Carolina for the movie "Radio," for which Angeline worked as a director's assistant.

With a background like this, Angeline admits that a return to her work in entertainment may be imminent. "My husband and I have recently started our own local video and film production company called Kids Creek Productions (we live and play by Kids Creek)," she says. "We have begun doing some local commercials, web videos, and music videos. Our hope is that over time we will slowly build this business into full-time work we can do together."

For now, though, Angeline says she is content with the work she's doing in the mom world. "I enjoy knowing that we have a long-term plan for our family business that will hopefully even include our kids!"

Lea Curtes-Swenson is a happy, Minneapolis-based freelance copywriter and mom of two little squirrels. Oops, girls. Read her latest post on business networking at Lea Writes, LLC.

Tags: angeline, duran, piotrowski, tmfc, tmotw

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Comment by Shelley Miles on September 15, 2009 at 9:28am: Angeline - so good to find you here. I loved reading your story. We miss you here in LA

Comment by Joanne Wallington (Byars) on September 15, 2009 at 9:13am: Really love the Santa pic. You moms are so inspiring! We rock!

Comment by Lea Curtes-Swenson on September 14, 2009 at 5:46pm: Thanks, ladies, for the supportive comments - they truly mean a lot. :) It's SO easy to write about people like Angeline, because you can see she's bursting with life, love and loads of humor! (Plus, she really opened herself up and gave me lots of information to work with... hint, hint!)

When I saw that Santa pic, I lost it. Just. Hilarious. Reminds me of the year we sent out one of those multi-photo holiday cards showing all our "outtakes" -- the photos that shouldn't have made it past Delete (because we couldn't get a good shot to save our lives)! Front & center was our Santa shot, featuring a hysterical one-year-old, bawling for all she's worth. Good times.

Angeline, did yours go out in the mail that year, by chance?

Comment by Tara Bucci on September 14, 2009 at 5:16pm: I love this post! Hilarious pictures and always love moms with the same sense of humor as mine...goofy! Congratulations Angeline!

Comment by shelley mcelhiney on September 14, 2009 at 3:43pm: Congrats Angeline! What a contrast, from LA & Hollywood to Michigan! Good to meet you!

Comment by Rachel on September 14, 2009 at 10:56am: Angeline, Your life in LA sounds really interesting, especially for us lifers in the Midwest! Living in Wisconsin, I also have the beautiful Lake Michigan to take advantage of. Sometimes it is so beautiful it takes my breath away. I'm sure you're finding all those hidden gem spots, especially with your MOMS Club to help! (I am a member too!) Talk about a lifeline...Continue to look on the bright side - yours seems especially sunny!

Comment by AMY SAPIRSTEIN on September 14, 2009 at 9:21am: Congrats Angeline!! Love the post and the Santa pic is classic!

Comment by Lynn Epstein on September 14, 2009 at 7:10am: Angeline, Congratulations. I enjoy your blog and weekly newsletter. It's terrific to learn more about you and your family. All the best,

Comment by Kelly Wissink on September 14, 2009 at 5:23am: It is a pleasure to meet you, Angeline! I may visit your "Hookers" group when we go up north. Traverse City is an absolutely beautiful area! I am "down south" in the Grand Rapids area but often make day trips up to your area. Getting connected is so important and I am so glad that you jumped right in! Welcome!

Comment by Jillian Livingston on September 14, 2009 at 5:23am: Hello Lea and Angeline,

Lea you are so good at capturing the important details. Angeline, I'm sure that it must be incredibly lonely at times in new territory but I do believe that change is good and it is good that you have your children away from the smoke from the fires!

That photo is a riot. With three boys of my own I know all to well that Koala cling.

Good luck with it all. You seem to be doing everything right with your blogs and your Hookers club (hope everybody reads the post well before reading this).

Welcome to Twittermoms!!