Janet Stupica Williams

    "I have a new respect for mothers everywhere. I keep telling myself many women before me have done this, so surely I can do it too, said Janet Stupica Williams. "I felt sick every day throughout the day for three and a half months, and I have been tired ever since! I was given a wonderful book called What to Expect When You are Expecting. Chapter by chapter, I found myself developing all of the symptoms that the book said were upcoming. I finally had to stop reading ahead for fear of becoming a hypochondriac!"
    I laughed out loud when Janet told me this. I also loved her descriptions of sitting and crying at sappy movies and her food cravings (frozen yogurt and Chicken Parmesan).
    A first baby is something so wonderful that it defies description, and it is a time of life that is never repeated. There is a magic and joy about the first kick of new life, and Janet and her husband Mark are thanking God for the opportunity to become parents and praying daily for His guidance.
    Janet and Mark are one of those couples that were somehow meant to be. They actually grew up less than 20 miles away from each other in small towns in Ohio and even had some friends in common. He also worked at a local sporting goods store where she shopped. Paths never crossed though. Then came Hilton Head Island. Janet came for a summer job at Van Der Meer Tennis University, where she worked until 1997 when she joined Smith Barney as a financial advisor. Introduced by mutual friends, Janet and Mark discovered their Ohio roots, and the rest is history.
    With parenthood in the near future, they are both looking forward with "over the moon" joy even though they realize that their life will change in ways they could never anticipate. Mark is going to be a wonderful father, according to Janet. "He believes that it is important to be there and engaged in our son's life. He is working tirelessly on the baby's room, and we have spent a lot of time talking about what we need to do in order to be the best parents possible," she said. "It is a dream come true for both of us."
    Caring for the new family addition will also be a family affair. Janet has been with Smith Barney for 11 years and can hardly imagine doing anything else. She has a love for people and for solving their problems, and being a financial advisor lets her combine both worlds. She also has a partner and colleagues who have given her the confidence to know that she can continue her career and not sacrifice the new job she will have as "mom." Both Janet's and Mark's families are ready to participate in new roles with the need to juggle careers and family life.
    New babies, new life, new stuff! What about baby showers? Janet recently went to get "registered" at the request of family and friends who are planning baby showers, and it was quite an education. There are strollers that vary greatly in price, and even bottles and diapers are displayed in a confusing array of brands, prices, quality and color! Janet explained. "They even have special trash cans just for throwing away diapers. I did not know that special bottle warmers and digital monitors existed. This is one of those areas that we will learn as we go," she said. "We still do not even have furniture for the nursery."
    For all her excitement over the little one, Janet plans to continue her active role in the community. She has been a member of the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Leadership program for a number of years and currently serves on the board of regents. She is a member of Kiwanis Club and also on the steering committee of the Women's Heart Health Conference. She believes that giving to one another should be a day to day thing, and that it is the secret to true happiness.


Up Close:

Q.    Who have you gone to for guidance during this time of so many questions?
A.    My mom is and always has been an inspiration to me and a confidant. She is the person that I can always go to for guidance.
Q.    What is your biggest concern for your new child?
A. We pray for good health; and even though we know that we will make mistakes along the way, we hope to be good parents.
Q.    Are you reading any interesting baby or parent books?
A.    Yes, several at the same time. I keep a stack by my bedside of advice books friends have given to me.
Q.    Do you have words to live by for your child?
A.    Yes, the Golden Rule-you know, "Do unto others. Also, hard work never hurt anyone.
Q.    Would you love a foot massage?
A.    Oh, yes! Who wouldn't?