When Michelle Villemaire, Palisadian mother of two, sat at Patrick’s Roadhouse writing her blog HomeMadeMimi, she found herself daydreaming. As she watched the servers in the hustle and bustle of their shift, she wondered if the skills she learned as a mother would make her a better waitress.
She decided to find out.
The owner of Patrick’s Roadhouse, Anthony Fischler, agreed to let Villemarie take a Sunday shift earlier this month. From 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Villemaire donned an apron and became the newest Roadhouse trainee.
Villemarie had worked as a waitress at Stage Deli in Boston and at the famous Los Angeles Sky Bar – but it had been more than a decade since she clocked in last.
Her tasks included filling water glasses, bringing out food and drinks, bussing tables, seating people – all with a friendly smile.
Fischler said Villemaire chose a particularly busy Sunday and Fischler admitted he was pretty surprised at how well she did.
“Trial by fire,” he said.
Photo: Micky Hohl
Villemaire’s motivation was to find out if parenting had increased her skill level. Fischler wasn’t convinced it made a difference. He said his opinion comes from having hired many mothers over the years.
“Being a mother really has nothing to do with it. It’s all up to the individual.” Fischler said, “Michelle just did a great job.”
Villemaire felt like she succeeded. She enjoyed the camaraderie in the workplace and despite Fischler’s assessment; she felt her mommy skills made a difference. She saw herself as more efficient, more committed and better at organizing than she had been in her early years as a waitress. However, she added it was challenging not to be a supervisor and noticed she was less patient.
Happy to rest her weary feet after a six-hour shift, Villemaire was joined for a meal by her husband Jonathan Abrahams and their daughters Pearl, 6, and Vivi, 3, Fischler joked with Villemaire, “I’m going to fire you.”
“No, you won’t,” she piped back. “Because I’m going to quit.”
While Villemarie may not be the typical waitress, her choice to explore returning to the workforce post motherhood has become more popular.
Carol Fishman Cohen, co-author of the book, Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work, writes “It’s not uncommon for people returning to the workforce to do this type of thing as a transition back to a career.”
Cohen, who also founded iRelaunch, hosts events to helps parents transcend the isolation they feel and reconnect with others in their efforts to resume their careers after time away from the workforce.
While Villemaire won’t be picking up any more shifts, she said ultimately her goal is to be a role model for her children. She wants them to see her working and to see that she has interests outside of the home that are connected to the community and the world around us.
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