We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Antonette Slobodian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Antonette below.

Antonette , appreciate you joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

I choose two amaaaazing heroes, because I have two wonderful parents!

My parents have supported me through every step of my journey throughout the toughest moments to the happiest times of my life. They have always been there for me when I needed them throughout childhood up until to this day and my own children are 8 and 14 years old. They put smiles on my face when I am feeling down and make me feel laugh when I need it the most. They are truly my heroes.

My parents came to America in the 70s wanting the American Dream. They had two small babies under 2 years old at the time. My mom is now a retired nurse, and my dad held an architecture degree. They built their life from the ground up, they found wonderful friends and they even convinced some of my Titas (aunts) and Titos (uncles) to come to the US and Canada to be closer to them.

Family is important to us.

Values are important to us.

I have seen my parents go through way too much and never give up. They have always shown my 3 older sisters and I that life will be hard but because of family, you need to work hard and keep going and never stop dreaming.

Dreaming is important to us.

I am a dreamer and I thank my parents for this. My father is known as the Filipino Elvis in our community and growing up, that was all I ever known him to be! He is over 80 years old and still singing his favorite songs and shaking it with his Blue Suede Shoes! I now love to sing because of him and my mother, and this talent and passion of mine will always be with me forever.

There are so many times when we think we always know better than our parents, but it’s not that we know better, we just know differently! We all go through different pathways and journeys on our own that we can share our advice, but it’s how the other person receives the advice and knowledge. What they do with it is up to them.

My husband and I are now at the stage where we are taking care of our kids and also have aging parents. This may be the hardest stage. The roles are reversing for my heroes, and I want to be here for them as much as possible, because they are where HOME will always be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

It was time for this SAHM to get back out there and look for work! Although I was already busy with passion projects, I knew I wanted something more! With everything that happened during the Pandemic… I found a new career and absolutely love it!

A Kid Again Michigan Chapter started in December of 2021. I was hired in May of last year and just recently I decided to become a volunteer for this amazing organization to continue to spread awareness and the mission.

A Kid Again provides Hope, Happiness and Healing for families who are raising children with life-threatening illnesses. They do this by creating cost-free fun-filled family Adventures around the whole state of Michigan!

With volunteering at my church, mom blogging and being a leader in my Filipino Community, all of this pointed me to the direction of helping others and being philanthropic! I was so happy that A Kid Again came to Michigan at this moment and also grateful that it’s an organization that I am deeply connected to.

As I mentioned before, I had congestive heart failure twice. As a child who was in and out of the hospital system and with three older sisters, I can’t imagine what their lives were like. I am here to help over 1350 children who are battling a life-threatening illness just have a break from shots, hospital visits and surgeries and just be A Kid Again!

There are so many grateful and wonderful families across the state who can’t wait for the next Adventure! Back in March on 313 Day, over 1000 family members went to the Detroit Pistons game at Little Ceasar’s Arena! There were 20 children on the basketball court for the National Anthem that stood in front of an NBA Player! Their parents were so proud of their kids and so happy to see them have this experience! There were alot of happy tears!

I want my kids to be grateful for what they have and know that there are always people in need of a helping hand. My husband and I want to be great role models for them. I want them to know that life is hard and sometimes it won’t go the way you planned, but you have to keep dreaming and keep on working for what you believe in!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I lost my job, I knew I was taking a break, my husband kept telling me it’s not permanent. It was great at first, but then things became really blurry, and I could not focus. That is when I knew that “I didn’t know what to do next!” But I kept on volunteering for church and mom blogging on Instagram (which I absolutely love doing reels). Last May, my Filipino Group performed this traditional royal dance from the Philippines for Unity Day, and it was such a great feeling to be a part of something like this! It is activities and community projects like this that got me to where I am now and that pointed me in the direction of helping others! This is how I bounced back in the workforce! I am still in the process of learning a new industry and staying connected to Detroit Non-profit networking groups. Everyone I have met thus far has been so amazing!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Life is full of ups and downs, and I am only in my 40s and still going through this beautiful journey of finding out what is next! Like I mentioned before, where I am now was born out of a really crazy time! I love butterflies, and this is a transition period where I am still in the process of just being better and in life to fully spread my wings. I went from working in a job that I absolutely loved to no job and being home with my boys for two years, which was amazing (when I wasn’t crying) to helping families who are raising children with life-threatening illnesses have fun and make happy memories to now volunteering for them and various organizations who need help!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://my.akidagain.org/campaign/michigan-annual-campaign-2023/c457385
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qualityofwifeandboys/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonette-slobodian-a1bb0a54/