he phrase, "Moms wear many hats," is an often used metaphor for the countless jobs of a mother.

There are days when we wear so many that we begin to wonder if we should open a hat store of our own.Who else could honestly fill out a job application and list, chef, nurse, counselor, mediator, negotiator, accountant, cleaner, laundry specialist, taxi driver, social planner and landscaper under "most recent jobs held?"Some mothers hold jobs which pay in actual currency and others hold jobs in which smiles, kisses and hugs can be accepted as full payment.And some moms get to have both.One of those moms is Lori Hoppes, an elementary substitute teacher for the Lehighton Area School District.While working during the school year and being on a schedule similar to that of three of her children, she is fortunate to be available for them in the summer, which makes some of the challenges during the school year a little more tolerable."One challenge is the early morning starting time for teachers - it can often result in a very busy a.m. time at home, since everyone needs to be out the door at the same time," Hoppes says."Another challenge is limited availability to participate in and/or enjoy school programs during the day that my children are involved in, but I am thankful that the school district is willing to work with me whenever it is possible."Three of Hoppes' children are still in school. Abby, Anna and Daniel seem to enjoy their mom being home with them in the summer months."I feel it brings a level of security and relaxation to our time in the summer, as they know I will be available for them. As they grow older, their activities don't always include me, but I do believe that they appreciate my presence at home and my willingness to transport them where they like to go."The flexibility of substituting allows vacation time as well."We are blessed to enjoy a family vacation together during the summer, and we look forward to it all year," Hoppes says."It's also a time that each of my kids participate in some sort of camp that interests them or allows them to serve others in some capacity. My son attends the Wellness Camp offered by Lehighton Area School District and both of my daughters are involved with camps affiliated with our church. They enjoy times of sleepovers and camp-outs with friends. And as they grow up, a favorite activity is 'sleeping in.'"But does she miss not working in the summer?"To be honest, there are times that I miss the adult interaction with other teachers. But for the most part, the summer is my time to recharge," Hoppes says."When my oldest daughter was young, I did work year-round as a director for a day care center. I was able to bring her to work with me, and she enjoyed the activities available at the center, so it made it possible and easy for me to work in the summer. But adding three more children to the mix changed the dynamic quite a bit."And fortunately with a substitute teacher's schedule it allows for the things that are most important to Hoppes, her husband and her family."The summer provides the perfect opportunity to participate in a short-term missions trip. In the past, my husband and I have served in Romania helping with Vacation Bible School for preschoolers and activities for teenagers. This summer we are traveling to Cuba to share in a Youth Camp Ministry. During a summer in the future, we hope to participate in a family missions trip somewhere in the U.S.," Hoppes says."I have had the privilege to work in all of the elementary grades, learning support, life skills, as well as the specials - music, library, art and phys-ed for LASD, so I interact with students and staff across a wide variety of environments. Building relationships and helping to provide a consistent and positive learning setting in the absence of the regular classroom teacher is what I strive for each day."And if we make it through a Common Core math lesson together before recess - that's the icing on the cake."