‘My Superhero’: A Mom Who Can Do It All
Mother’s Day is a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the extraordinary women who shape our lives with love, strength, and boundless devotion. This year, we shine the spotlight on one super special mom, Krystin Withers, who goes above and beyond every single day.
Krystin Withers is the mother to Hailey, 12, and Arya, 10. She has been married to Rob Withers for 13 years, and they have lived in the SDCEA for over 10 years.
Before becoming a wife and a mother, she was in the military. “I joined the Navy when I was 20 as an airframe structural mechanic and was stationed on Coronado fixing and maintaining MH-60S helicopters (flight controls, landing gear, hydraulics, etc.). I specialized in Radome and composite repair (fiberglass) and metal work,” says Withers.
While she and Rob were dating, she deployed to Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the Naval Air Ambulance Detachment. She also served on the Funeral Detail for Navy Region Southwest. After four years of service, Withers knew she wanted a family and couldn’t imagine being separated by deployments. She decided to get out of the military and finish her degree. She graduated with a bachelor’s in business in 2013, when Hailey was one. “I wanted Arya to see me walk across that stage, too, so I went back for my master’s and graduated with an MBA in 2019,” Withers adds.
Withers is a dog trainer and owns Withers Dog Training, which she started six years ago when her youngest entered kindergarten. Withers has been helping people with dogs since she was 12 years old. She gets to work with people and dogs, helping them build a connection based on respect and boundaries. The most rewarding part of her job is working with fearful dogs, overcoming all the mistrust and bad past experiences for that first moment when they decide they trust her and maybe even show her their belly to get a belly rub.
“Dog training and owning my own business allows me to pursue two of my greatest passions: working with dogs and being a mother to my girls,” says Withers. Her business also allows her to be available for the girls—for all the school drop-offs, pick-ups, field trips, volunteering, and all the little moments in between. The girls sometimes have opportunities to help with dog training and are very valuable when it comes to exposing dogs to children because they know how to stay calm and behave with the appropriate level of distraction and energy needed for the dog to learn, grow, and trust.
“I am beyond thankful for the partnership with my husband because that is a major factor in my ability to be available to our girls,” says Withers. They both value the idea of not only quality family time with the girls but also supporting each other in all their endeavors and achievements. “We all show up for one another to support, cheer on, and celebrate victories and growth.”
Withers and her husband encourage their girls to participate in sports and activities that interest them without overloading the girls or themselves. Right now, both daughters are involved in the same activities—flag football and theater. Hailey is also loving horseback riding lessons from Miss Kelly Van Zant at the IEC. The family values their downtime at home and loves being outside, hiking, swimming, climbing trees, and being in the garden.
According to the experts (Hailey and Arya), they have the best mom in the world. Hailey talks about how great their mom is at being a mom. “She is always there when I have questions or need someone to talk to, stopping whatever she is doing to help me,” says Hailey. She adds, “The nicest thing my mom has done is when she sees a dog on the side of the road that is lost, my mom stops and works her hardest to help it get back home.” Hailey loves cooking, going out, and even just talking with her mom because she is so entertaining, fun, and loving. She says two words that describe her mother are, “My superhero.”
According to Arya, their mom plans a lot of cool activities and road trips as a family, which are always very fun. Arya says that if her mom were a superhero, her powers would be showing compassion, caring, love, and kindness for others and our community and teaching how to be a good person. “My mom is really good at training and caring for dogs. She is an awesome dog trainer. Her job rocks!” adds Arya. One of her favorite things to do with her mom is volunteer at a farm called Robin’s Nest.
Not only is Withers a supermom, but she also has some handy hobbies. “I am an artist and a tinker. I have done all kinds of things around the house just because I can,” says Withers. She laid a flagstone path, built a brick retaining wall, fixed drywall, installed lighting fixtures, and replaced faucets. She says it wouldn’t surprise her husband if he came home and the walls or cabinets were a different color. She recently wanted a very specific shed, but she couldn’t find exactly what she was looking for anywhere. So, she drew up the plans with measurements and just went for it. She had never built anything like that before, but it was so fulfilling. And her strong girl, Hailey, was right there with her, helping her frame, using the driver, and moving the heavy pieces into place. The best part: Hailey left little messages inside on the wood, like, “Built by Mommy and Hailey” and “My mommy is so strong.”
Withers’ favorite part about being a mom is getting a front-row seat to watch her beautiful little humans discover the world and themselves. When they are scared or unsure, she gets to be the person they hold because she is the one who makes them feel safe and loved.
“I have loved and cherished every age with these girls as if it were not only my first time but also my last time,” says Withers. “We turn all the little moments into memories.” They play dress up, have dance parties, talk, play games, create adventures, and get involved with the community...they don’t rush growing up. Withers made a promise to both her girls: to protect the age they are and treat them that age for the whole year until that number changes, whether they like it or not. She truly feels that is one thing that makes them feel so safe and loved. Her goal is to be someone they want to hang out with when they’re grown and have a choice. And right now, they are who she wants to hang out with.
Withers is trying to be the mommy they deserve. “This parenting journey is something I couldn’t do and wouldn’t want to do without my husband by my side.” She thinks they have learned a lot from each other and are still learning. Hailey has taught her the importance of letting go of things that don’t matter and slowing down. Arya has taught her patience and to look at everything from a different perspective. “I am still learning, and I make mistakes. But I am showing up and trying my best. And I am having so much fun, too.“
On Mother’s Day, Withers usually wakes up to lots of artwork and two lovable little girls, which is the best. Her amazing husband has planned a brunch outing at Farmer and the Sea Horse and then they will enjoy their peaceful home on what is sure to be a beautiful day in the SDCE.
Photos courtesy of Kristin Withers.
