b"One thing I hope my kids know is none of us gets here alone, Melanie says. Now that theyre all in middle school, Hannah, Toni, and Brian can appreciate even more the hard work their IF I DONT GET TOmom has put into her career and also the amazing role model she is.It isnt easy.There are still days when I go home at 5:30 and hang out with my kids and then start work again at 9:00 pm, BE WHAT I WANTMelanie shares, but shes grateful that shes been able to make it work.Shes proof to all the girls at Girls Inc. that you can be TO BE, THEN HOWstrong, smart, and bold.DO I TELL MY DAUGHTER SHE CAN BE WHO SHE WANTS TO BE?part-time, but ended up full-time again anyway.Those doubts and parental guilt began to creep in, but Melanie shares that she then had a realization, If I dont get to be what I want to be, then how do I tell my daughter she can be who she wants to be?It wasnt long after that she was invited by a friend and colleague to attend a presentation put on by Girls Inc. with Peggy Orenstein, author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter.Girls Inc. is a non-profit committed to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. The message was exactly what Melanie believed in.I believe in championing women, Melanie says.She started as a tutor inOne thing I hope my kids know is none of us gets here alone, says lower-income neighborhoods, but it didnt take long for her toMelanie pictured here with(l to r) Hannah, 14, Brian, 11 and apply to the Board of Girls Inc. where she eventually became theToni, 12.Chair.Melanie at NCAA headquarters with a delegation from Girls, Inc. meeting with Dan Brown, GM of the American Airlines Center and Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission to bring the 2017 Women's Final Four to Dallas.GoodLifeFamilyMag.comSEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 201959"